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'State-sponsored murder': BJP targets Stalin, DMK govt over Chennai Air show incident

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The Times Of Indiapublisher-detail-arrow
07th October, 2024 11:34 IST
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu BJP chief Annamalai slammed the DMK-led-Tamil Nadu government for the deaths of five people during the Chennai air show on Sunday, stating that mismanagement at the venue led to the deaths and injuries of people.

Stampede-like situations triggered by over crowding; heat stroke and lack of basic arrangements at the venue led to the death of five people and injuries to several hundred people.

Taking to X, Annamalai wrote, "I was shocked to hear that 5 people died due to crowding and more than 200 people were injured and admitted to the hospital for treatment during the IAF 'AIR Show' program held at Chennai Marina Beach. The only reason for this is that the DMK government has not taken care of the safety of the public without providing basic facilities and adequate transport arrangements for the public who came to witness the IAF Air Show."

Launching scathing attack on MK Stalin, Annamalai questioned why the chief minister could not ensure proper arrangements for big events like this when he could ensure the same for events that promote himself.

"I strongly condemn chief minister MK Stalin and the DMK government for ruling only for his family and without any concern for the lives of the people, which has caused the death of 5 persons and the misery of hundreds of families. The Chief Minister must be answerable to the public on this matter," Annamalai added.

Earlier, Opposition leader and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami also slammed the DMK over the incident. "This pains me. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. My strong condemnation of the DMK government for failing to properly coordinate even such an important event. My strong condemnation to this MK Stalin government for failing to provide proper security for this event," he said.

BJP Tamil Nadu Vice President Narayanan Thirupathy has criticized the state's ruling DMK government over alleged shortcomings in the Indian Air Force Air Adventure Program held in Chennai.

BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan hit out at the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government over the death of 5 people due to overcrowding during air show by the Indian Air Force (IAF) at the Marina Beach in Chennai and said that the state government was incapable and unprepared to deal with this event.

CR Kesavan said, "Is this the DMK government's Dravida model of utter negligence and incompetence? Yesterday's tragedy at Chennai Air Force show very clearly showed that the State Government, led by DMK, was clearly incapable and unprepared to deal with this event. It is startling because barely a month before you had F4 night racing championships held in Chennai by the DMK govt. Such priority and precedence was accorded to this F4 event. The administration left no stone unturned in making sure that everything went properly. Why the same priority could not be accorded to this Air Show is the question."


Amid the backlash by the opposition on the ruling DMK government for "neglecting" basic facilities in the Indian Air Force Air Adventure Program at Chennai, Bharatiya Janata Party Tamil Nadu Vice President Narayanan Thirupathy on Monday termed the incident as "Unfortunate" and said that the government has to take responsibility for this.

"The tragic deaths of five people and more than 200 people being hospitalized in the Chennai air show is not a tragedy, it is a state-sponsored murder and disaster for which the DMK government and chief minister (MK Stalin) is directly responsible as his and the government's priority is the elevation of dynasty and corruption...The chief minister, health minister, DMK government is responsible for the incident...The chief minister should take a step down and take accountability for this," said BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla.


AIADMK demands resignation of TN Health Minister

AIADMK leader Kovai Sathyan on Sunday demanded the resignation of Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian over the Chennai Air Show incident and dubbed it as "complete mismanagement" of the DMK government.


DMK's response
Meanwhile, DMK MP MP Kanimozhi took to X and said that blamed soaring temperature for deaths of five people. He added that "Unmanageable gatherings should also be avoided".

He posted, "The news of the death of 5 people is very sad and painful when the public who witnessed the military flight adventure program held at the Marina beach in Chennai suffered from the crowd and the temperature was high. Unmanageable gatherings should also be avoided."


Meanwhile, DMK leader TKS Elangovan said, "People were gathered in large numbers at the Marina Beach...The event is conducted by the Indian Air Force...The crowd was unexpectedly huge which Marina could not hold...Such kinds of incidents have also happened in many temple festivals...Opposition leaders will always accuse us of anything. They will not manage anything. More than 100 people were taken to the hospital. The state government has made all the arrangements..."



Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian on Monday confirmed that five people had lost their lives due to the after effects of excessive heat during the Air Force Air show at the Marina Beach in Chennai on Sunday.



The Indian Air Force on Sunday organised an Air Show at Chennai's Marina Beach ahead of the upcoming 92nd Air Force Day on October 8.

(With inputs from ANI)

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