BJP attacks INDIA bloc parties for silence on TN Hooch tragedy

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Sunday attacked the INDIA bloc over the tragedy in DMK-ruled Tamil Nadu, saying it hopes alliance leaders who have not spoken out on the issue will at least show repentance by gathering near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Parliament. complex and observing a minute of silence for the lives lost. Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, the party’s national spokesperson Sambit Patra also slammed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and asked him to clarify whether he was ” accomplice” in the incident in the Kallakurichi district of the state.

“More than 56 people have died…many are still in critical condition. More than 40 of those who died while consuming counterfeit liquor are Dalits. This is a state-sponsored killing and I am surprised that Congress representatives Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Sonia Gandhi, DMK leaders and those of other constituents of the ‘INDI Alliance’ are remaining silent on this issue,” Patra said.

It seems they are remaining silent on this issue as it does not serve their politics, the BJP leader charged.

“When the parliamentary session begins tomorrow, I hope that the leaders of the INDI Alliance will go to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi to observe silence, wearing black headbands on their arms, and repent for the death of people in this tragedy,” Patra said.

“Mahatma Gandhi was against illicit liquor. Gandhiji’s statue awaits you, his principles await you,” he added.

Lashing out at Chief Minister Stalin, Patra accused his government and DMK leaders of being complicit in the tragedy.

“In his first statement, the district collector had initially denied that people died after consuming poor quality liquor. He was asked to do so because the Assembly session was to begin the next day,” the BJP leader said, citing certain media outlets. .

Due to the district collector’s refusal, those who had stocks of stray liquor continued to consume it and more than a dozen people died the next day, he added.

“Of course the (Tamil Nadu) government is complicit in this. Look at the behavior of the chief minister. I am amazed that a tragedy of such magnitude has hit the state while the chief minister is away. Until the time I arrived to hold this press conference, he had not visited the bereaved family members of the deceased,” Patra said.

“Shouldn’t the CM make a statement,” the BJP leader asked.