BJP leader JP Nadda questions Congress’ ‘stoic silence’ on Kallakurichi tragedy

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jagat Prakash Nadda on Monday wrote to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge questioning his party’s “stoic silence” over the Kallakurichi tragedy in Tamil Nadu, in which most of the victims belonged to the Scheduled Caste community.

The BJP president urged Mr. Kharge to pursue Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to visit the families of the victims or raise their voice on the issue.

“Some issues require us to cross party lines and the welfare and security of the SC/ST community is one of them. “Now is the time to truly put the theme of ‘Nyay’ (justice) into practice and not reduce it to a catchy campaign slogan deployed to launch a failed political dynasty,” he said. he declares.

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Stating that the people of Tamil Nadu, as well as the entire SC community, were witnessing the “doublespeak” of the Congress, particularly Mr. Gandhi, and other leaders of the Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc ), Mr. Nadda said, “Suddenly, all the sanctimonious sermons of Rahul Gandhi on the Constitution and ensuring the welfare and rights of the SC/OBC community stopped.”

The BJP, as a “sensitive party”, extended its condolences and sympathy to the people of Tamil Nadu and also extended all possible support to all the distraught families, he said.

Calling it a “man-made disaster”, the BJP leader said, “Perhaps, if the deep nexus between the ongoing DMK-INDI alliance and the illicit liquor mafia did not exist, today 56 (later the toll rose to 57) lives could have been lost. registered”. He said that in May 2023, when 23 people died due to illicit liquor in Villupuram and Chengalpattu, the BJP had warned the DMK government against complicity and nexus between its officials and the mafia illicit alcohol.

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The letter states that in the present case too, media and investigative reports have indicated so far that the illicit alcohol trade would have benefited from state and police patronage.

Mr. Nadda accused Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MP Stalin of blocking “a free, fair and independent investigation” by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the deaths and preventing the opposition to raise the issue inside and outside the State Assembly. . He reiterated the BJP’s demand to remove Minister of State for Excise and Prohibition S. Muthusamy and increase compensation to the victims’ families.

“We invite you to join our leaders in a black band protest against this state-sponsored disaster in front of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi inside the Prerna Sthal, Parliament precincts,” the letter said.