Members of the AIADMK party in Chennai staged a hunger strike on Thursday to protest against the DMK government following the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy that claimed the lives of 63 individuals. The AIADMK leaders demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the incident, as reported by ANI. AIADMK Senior Leader C. Ponnaiyan stated that their demand included the dismissal of the Stalin government and legal action against the perpetrators of illicit liquor trade, which they alleged was supported by DMK functionaries.
AIADMK leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Edappadi Palaniswami and other senior leaders participated in the strike. AIADMK leader D Jayakumar echoed the demand for a CBI inquiry, stating that the agitation would continue until the investigation was handed over to the CBI. He criticized the government, claiming that democracy was being stifled and that the AIADMK had been denied the opportunity to raise the issue in the assembly.
AIADMK Senior Leader and Former Minister C Vijayabaskar also voiced their concerns, stating that the party had been silenced in the assembly forum and had resorted to public protest. He stressed the need to investigate the root cause of the tragedy and identify those involved, emphasizing that the CBI was the appropriate agency for such an investigation.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution to suspend AIADMK members for disrupting the assembly proceedings. Speaker Appavu justified the suspension, stating that important issues needed to be discussed, including the caste census resolution. He also mentioned the CM’s request to not suspend the AIADMK MLAs for the entire session. However, Appavu criticized the AIADMK for their disruptive behavior, stating that it hindered the proceedings and prevented other MLAs from raising constituency-related concerns.
As of Wednesday evening, the death toll from the hooch tragedy had risen to 63, according to data from the Kallakurichi District Collectorate. A total of 78 individuals were receiving treatment across various hospitals in the state, with 48 admitted at the Government Kallakurichi Medical College and Hospital. Hospital authorities confirmed that 66 individuals had been discharged from the same facility.
In addition to those in Kallakurichi, 9 individuals were receiving treatment in Puducherry, 18 in Salem District, 1 at Royapettah Hospital in Chennai, and 2 in Villupuram District, all at government hospitals. Overall, 88 people had been discharged from hospitals across Tamil Nadu following treatment for complications arising from consuming illicit liquor. The total number of individuals affected by this incident had now risen to 229. (With inputs from agencies)
