NEW DELHI: BJP president JP Nadda on Monday wrote a letter to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge over Kallakurichi hooch tragedy in Tamil Nadu that claimed 56 lives until now and almost 159 persons hospitalized and accused the grand old party of maintaining a ‘stoic silence’ on the issue.
In his letter, BJP chief Nadda said, “Visuals of crying women and children who have lost their husbands, sons and fathers have left everyone speechless.This is a human tragedy of enormous proportions, which words alone can never truly encapsulate. BJP, being a sensitive party, has not only extended full condolences and sympathies to the people of Tamil Nadu during this period of mourning but has been providing utmost support to every distraught family.”
“But even as we collectively mourn this great loss I am constrained to acquaint you with a few shocking facts and circumstances, which perhaps could have helped in averting this mindless loss of innocent lives. And if, even at this stage, I dither from my moral obligation to present these facts before you for your cognizance and action, I would be failing in my responsibilities towards humanity as a whole,” he added.
Stepping up his attack on DMK-INDIA bloc, Nadda accused the Tamil Nadu government of being the ‘biggest patroniser of illicit spurious liquor trade.’
“Ironically, your DMK-INDI ALLIANCE government is now the biggest patroniser of illicit spurious liquor trade that has claimed hundreds of lives whenever you are in power,” the letter read.
“In the present case too, media and investigative reports so far have made it clear as to how this business of illicit liquor was functioning with impunity, right in the open and during broad daylight, obviously with patronage from the state and police. When the disaster struck, instead of immediately taking accountability and saving lives, the state administration was busy in trying to cover up,” Nadda added.
The death toll in the Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy has risen to 56, according to a report released by the district administration on Sunday. The District Collectorate of Kallakurichi reported that a total of 216 patients were admitted to four hospitals in Tamil Nadu after consuming illicit liquor.
Earlier on Saturday, BJP workers in Tamil Nadu staged a protest over the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy.
Previously, the Tamil Nadu government had ordered a judicial inquiry into the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, to be led by retired Madras high court judge Justice B Gokuldas. Justice Gokuldas is expected to submit a report within three months.
Chief minister MK Stalin announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh to the families of each deceased victim and Rs 50,000 to each person under treatment.
In his letter, BJP chief Nadda said, “Visuals of crying women and children who have lost their husbands, sons and fathers have left everyone speechless.This is a human tragedy of enormous proportions, which words alone can never truly encapsulate. BJP, being a sensitive party, has not only extended full condolences and sympathies to the people of Tamil Nadu during this period of mourning but has been providing utmost support to every distraught family.”
“But even as we collectively mourn this great loss I am constrained to acquaint you with a few shocking facts and circumstances, which perhaps could have helped in averting this mindless loss of innocent lives. And if, even at this stage, I dither from my moral obligation to present these facts before you for your cognizance and action, I would be failing in my responsibilities towards humanity as a whole,” he added.
Stepping up his attack on DMK-INDIA bloc, Nadda accused the Tamil Nadu government of being the ‘biggest patroniser of illicit spurious liquor trade.’
“Ironically, your DMK-INDI ALLIANCE government is now the biggest patroniser of illicit spurious liquor trade that has claimed hundreds of lives whenever you are in power,” the letter read.
“In the present case too, media and investigative reports so far have made it clear as to how this business of illicit liquor was functioning with impunity, right in the open and during broad daylight, obviously with patronage from the state and police. When the disaster struck, instead of immediately taking accountability and saving lives, the state administration was busy in trying to cover up,” Nadda added.
The death toll in the Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy has risen to 56, according to a report released by the district administration on Sunday. The District Collectorate of Kallakurichi reported that a total of 216 patients were admitted to four hospitals in Tamil Nadu after consuming illicit liquor.
Earlier on Saturday, BJP workers in Tamil Nadu staged a protest over the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy.
Previously, the Tamil Nadu government had ordered a judicial inquiry into the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, to be led by retired Madras high court judge Justice B Gokuldas. Justice Gokuldas is expected to submit a report within three months.
Chief minister MK Stalin announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh to the families of each deceased victim and Rs 50,000 to each person under treatment.
