Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy: AIADMK holds hunger strike, DMDK lends support

Chennai: AIADMK legislators led by party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and party legislators on Thursday undertook a day-long hunger strike here demanding a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy that has claimed the lives of over 60 people.

The MLAs also protested against “denial of permission” by Speaker M Appavu to raise the issue in the Assembly. AIADMK legislators were suspended from the House on Wednesday after they continued to create a ruckus demanding that the issue be taken up after suspending the Question Hour.

Clad in black shirts, the MLAs held the hunger strike at the Rajarathinam Stadium here with Palaniswami reiterating that the hooch tragedy should be investigated by the CBI, and not the CB-CID. He also questioned why Chief Minister M K Stalin hasn’t visited Kallakurichi and met the families of the hooch tragedy victims even a week after the incident.

Palaniswami also accused Stalin of shying away from holding a discussion on the Kallakurichi issue. “They don’t want to discuss it,” the Leader of Opposition said.

The AIADMK MLAs also received support from ally DMDK with its general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth personally visiting the site and sharing the stage with Palaniswami. The party also received surprise support from Naam Tamizhar Katchi, a Tamil nationalist outfit.

Speaking to reporters at the fast site, Premalatha reiterated that the DMDK will boycott the by-polls to Vikravandi and there was no change in the party’s stand.

The AIADMK general secretary had been keeping up the pressure on the issue on the DMK government by leading a protest march and meeting Governor R N Ravi, demanding a CBI inquiry into the Kallakurichi incident.

The hooch tragedy shook the state with over 60 people losing their lives since June 19 in Kallakurichi district.