At first public protest over ‘custodial deaths’, Vijay’s salvo at Stalin govt – ‘Your best answer is Sorry Ma’
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At first public protest over ‘custodial deaths’, Vijay’s salvo at Stalin govt – ‘Your best answer is Sorry Ma’
Actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay led his first public demonstration since entering politics. He lashed out at Chief Minister M K Stalin for “hiding behind the Union government’ by transferring the custodial death case of Ajith Kumar to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) The protest, held at Swami Sivananda Salai in Chennai, drew hundreds of TVK cadres and supporters. Vijay demanded justice for the 24 alleged victims of custodial deaths in Tamil Nadu under the DMK regime over the past four years. About 10,000 people attended the event, which was led by Vijay and his party’s general secretary, Ravi Agrawal. The case has sparked public outrage after a postmortem revealed 44 external injuries and internal bleeding in the brain, heart, and abdomen, indicating custodial torture.
Vijay, dressed in a black shirt, demanded justice for the 24 alleged victims of custodial deaths in Tamil Nadu under the DMK regime over the past four years. About 10,000 people attended the event.
Speaking at the demonstration, Vijay said: “There is nothing wrong in saying sorry to the family of Ajith Kumar,” referring to what CM Stalin told the victim’s family. “So far, 24 persons have died in police lock-ups in your government. You should apologise to all the 24 families. Similarly, you should provide compensation to all the 24 families”.
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The case of Ajith Kumar, a security guard at the Madappuram Bathrakaliamman temple in Sivaganga district, has sparked public outrage after a postmortem revealed 44 external injuries and internal bleeding in the brain, heart, and abdomen, indicating custodial torture. Vijay questioned the DMK government’s decision to transfer the case to the CBI, citing Stalin’s own criticism of such moves during his time in opposition.
“When the Sathankulam custodial death case was transferred to the CBI, you called it an insult to the Tamil Nadu police. Now you are doing the same,” Vijay blamed Stalin’s decision. “You said that CBI is a toy in the hands of BJP and RSS and even now it remains the same. You have transferred the case to the CBI just to hide behind the Union government,” he added.
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Taking a sharper tone, Vijay declared, “The CBI continues to be a puppet in the hands of the RSS and the BJP. Why are you hiding yourselves behind them by ordering a CBI probe into Ajith Kumar’s death?”
Criticising what he described as the government’s passive response to serious crimes, Vijay alleged: “There are several atrocities in your government. Starting from the Anna University (rape) case to the Ajith Kumar case, the court is intervening and questioning the government. If the court is there to question everything, why are you here? Why is this government here? Why is this Chief Minister post for you?”
“There will be no reply from you because there is no reply with you. The best answer which can be expected from you is ‘Sorry Ma’,” he said, mocking Stalin’s apology and branding the DMK government a “Sorry Ma Government”. “This is a ‘Sorry Ma’ model of government… TVK will stand with the people and will force you to rectify the situation. TVK will undertake all required protests.”
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Protesters carried placards that read “We don’t want sorry, but justice,” and raised slogans demanding the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the supervision of the Madras High Court. They also urged the DMK government to release a White Paper detailing all 24 custodial deaths during its tenure.
Vijay had met the families of 18 alleged victims on Saturday at the party’s headquarters in Panaiyur and assured them that TVK would extend full legal support if they wished to proceed against the government.