CBI's Second Round
The CBI called upon TVK president Vijay to appear before them in Delhi for a second session of questioning concerning the Karur stampede probe. Vijay's
examination, conducted as a witness, took place on Monday. The TVK party officials indicated that Vijay was likely to return to Chennai late the same day, unless the CBI decided to prolong the questioning. The earlier questioning involved Vijay's account of the incident. He told investigators that the lapses in crowd control by the local police during his Karur campaign on September 27, led to the tragic stampede, which resulted in the loss of 41 lives. He emphasized that bottlenecks were not cleared on time, which slowed access to the venue and worsened the congestion.
Key Investigation Details
Investigators were anticipated to revisit certain aspects of the incident. These included the reasons for Vijay's late arrival at the venue, the crowd conditions he observed upon reaching, and whether his team had received any prior information regarding the crowd size before the program began. The CBI might also seek clarity on whether the police had raised any concerns about proceeding with the event after Vijay's arrival near the Karur roundabout. In his initial testimony, Vijay also defended his decision to depart the scene after the stampede, stating that he did so to prevent the situation from escalating further. This move underscored the complexity and sensitivity surrounding the aftermath of the tragic event.
Political Engagement Ahead
On his return to Chennai, Vijay was scheduled to attend the initial meeting of the party's 12-member election manifesto panel, led by general secretary Arun Raj. The meeting, which was set to take place at the party headquarters on Tuesday, was focused on discussions regarding outreach plans and gathering inputs from various communities. Meanwhile, a case related to the delayed release of Vijay's film, 'Jana Nayagan,' was to be taken up by the Madras High Court. The ongoing CBI probe and the delay in the film's release had notably subdued the party's political activities. Vijay's last public appearance occurred a month earlier in Erode.
Party's Stance Evolving
When questioned about potential political alliances and the possibility of former AIADMK leaders joining the party, TVK chief coordinator K A Sengottaiyan responded with a cautious approach. He mentioned that the party would 'wait and see' after January 23, without offering any further details. The party's strategy reflects the ongoing shifts in the political landscape and the considerations of potential alliances. This wait-and-see stance suggests a period of observation and evaluation as the party navigates its future political engagements. The party's leaders are cautiously monitoring the situation before making any definitive decisions regarding the future.
