Peace activist warns against repeating history, urging reforms in crowd management protocols.
New Delhi: After 40 people lost their lives in Karur during actor Vijay’s rally, global peace activist Dr. K. A. Paul offered condolences and stressed that such tragedies must not occur in a democracy.
Dr. Paul, who just returned from the United States, said the incident was “unbelievable and deeply saddening,” and expressed his condolences to the bereaved families. He held multiple parties accountable for the tragedy, starting with actor Vijay himself, who was scheduled to arrive at 12 noon but only reached the venue at 7 p.m., a delay that, according to Dr. Paul, contributed directly to the chaos. He also blamed the organizers, who had secured permission for only 10,000 people even though more than one lakh eventually gathered.
The police, he said, must also answer for granting permission without proper planning or safeguards, while the Stalin-led state government bears responsibility for failing to ensure adequate crowd management and safety measures. Dr. Paul further called out sections of the public for their own recklessness, questioning why families brought children into such unsafe conditions.
Drawing a comparison with his own 2200 peace rallies around the world in 40 plus years without a single tragedy or death though Lakhs even millions attended .
“I pray for the families of the victims and extend my heartfelt condolences. Such tragedies must never repeat in our democracy,” Dr. Paul said.
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