Opposition parties criticise state, allies demand probe

Chennai: Opposition parties, including AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, BJP leaders, and TVK president and actor Vijay came down hard on state govt on Monday for "poor arrangements" at the Sunday air show during which five people died due to heat-related ailments.
Meanwhile, allies, such as VCK and CPM expressed their displeasure and demanded a probe.
Speaking to reporters in Salem, Palaniswami criticised chief minister M K Stalin for "failing to implement necessary safety and precautionary measures at the air show".
Palaniswami accused Stalin of inviting a huge crowd to the event, stating that many people suffered due to a lack of basic amenities, and some tragically lost their lives.
"Stalin must bear full responsibility for the fatalities," Palaniswami said.
DMK allies VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan and CPM state secretary K Balakrishnan demanded a high-level probe into the death of five people. TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai told reporters that the deaths could not be justified. His party would give 1 lakh aid to each of the bereaved families.
DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi had a word of advice. She said on X, "Crowds that cannot be handled and people assembling in large numbers should be avoided in future."
Meanwhile, Union minister of state for parliamentary affairs L Murugan told reporters in Tirunelveli that several meetings were held regarding the air show between Indian Air Force (IAF) and Tamil Nadu govt. Despite this, precautionary measures were not taken. "State govt should have known that there would be a huge crowd and arrangements should have been made accordingly," Murugan said.
TVK leader Vijay, while condoling the deaths, said state govt should ensure that all precautions were in place for such events where a large number of people gather in the future. Former Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan questioned the arrangements made for the show.
BJP treasurer S R Sekhar alleged water was provided only for VIPs and not for the public. BJP spokesperson A N S Prasad criticised the state govt, saying it failed to match the IAF's aerial brilliance due to its administrative lapses.
PMK president Anbumani Ramdoss said state govt should take "full responsibility" for the deaths. NTK chief Seeman condemned DMK govt, saying "the death of five persons is a murder committed by state govt".
AMMK general secretary T T V Dhinakaran said state govt's carelessness led to the deaths.
Former AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam and TMC president G K Vasan said proper precautionary measures were not taken.