Hooch tragedy: BJP slams INDIA bloc’s silence
Union Minister Nirmala, Sambit Patra seek CBI probe
NEW DELHI: The BJP on Sunday attacked the INDIA bloc over the hooch tragedy in Kallakurichi. Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman demanded that the Congress breaks its silence on the issue and “pull up” its ally DMK for the loss of lives in the incident.
The BJP also said it hopes the opposition alliance leaders who have not spoken on the issue will at least show repentance by gathering near the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex and observing a moment of silence for the victims.
Union Finance Minister Sitharaman also demanded that the case be handed over to the CBI for investigation.
“You have no statement coming from Congress president (Mallikarjun Kharge) or the former Congress president (Rahul Gandhi), who rushes to the South seeking people’s vote to win elections,” she charged.
The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu has had a hand in supporting those selling spurious liquor in the state, she alleged. “The incident cannot be fully inquired into if the state government is dealing with the probe. And therefore I demand that this inquiry should be given to the CBI and immediate action should be taken to arrest those behind this,” she said. “I don’t think justice will be served if inquiry and the whole matter is left only to the Tamil Nadu government,” she added.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, party’s national spokesperson Sambit Patra also slammed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and asked him to clarify if he was “complicit” in the incident which took place in the state’s Kallakurichi district.
“More than 56 people have died... many are still critical. More than 40 of those who died consuming spurious liquor are Dalits. This is state-sponsored murder and I am surprised that the Congress’ Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Sonia Gandhi are silent on it,” Patra said. It seems they are silent as it does not serve their politics, the BJP leader charged.
‘At least assemble before Mahatma’s statue’
“When the Parliament session starts tomorrow, I hope INDI Alliance leaders will go to Mahatma Gandhi’s statue to observe silence, wearing black bands on their arms, and repent for the death of people in the hooch tragedy,” Patra said. “Gandhiji’s statue is waiting for you, his principles are waiting for you,” he added. “Of course, the (Tamil Nadu) government is complicit in this. Look at the behaviour of the CM. I am astonished that a tragedy of such a magnitude has struck the state yet the CM is absent. Till the time I came to hold this press conference, he had not visited the bereaved family members,” Patra said.
“Shouldn’t the CM come out with a statement,” the BJP leader asked.