Thalapathy Vijay is under fire after a stampede at his Karur public meeting killed 41 people and injured more than 80. Critics say the tragedy has damaged him politically.
What worsened the backlash was Vijay leaving Karur without meeting the victims. Other than a tweet, he did little to console those affected. The Opposition quickly used this against him, accusing him of indifference.
Vijay later announced ex-gratia on X and released a video on the same platform. Instead of focusing on the victims, the video centred on charges of vendetta politics. Vijay asked the government to target him directly instead of filing FIRs against his party leaders.
While protecting party members is expected from any leader, many feel Vijay’s priorities are misplaced. With families grieving and survivors still in hospitals, people expected compassion before political statements.
Releasing the video now has fuelled perceptions of him being power-hungry. Public emotions are high, and opponents will ensure this incident is not forgotten easily. Without meeting victims or giving closure, continuing his campaign may prove difficult.
For the sake of his party and political future, Vijay’s next step matters. Meeting victims could help repair the damage, while staying silent may only deepen mistrust.
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