The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday criticized the opposition INDIA bloc for its ‘silence’ regarding the hooch tragedy in DMK-ruled Tamil Nadu, which has claimed over 50 lives. BJP MP Sambit Patra pointed out the absence of comments from Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and other INDIA bloc members, calling their silence “quite striking.” Patra described the deaths as murders, noting that most victims were from scheduled castes.
“If more than 32 Dalits are killed in this country, I would call it a murder, this is not death,” Patra stated during a press briefing. He accused several political parties of remaining silent because they believed addressing the issue was not in their political interest.
Details of the Hooch Tragedy:
The death toll from the hooch tragedy in Kallakurichi district, Tamil Nadu, has risen to 53, with many still hospitalized. Out of 193 individuals admitted to various government medical facilities, 140 are reported to be in stable condition, according to district collector M S Prasanth.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin confirmed that the locally brewed arrack was laced with poisonous methanol, resulting in 37 deaths within hours of consumption. This incident is among the deadliest in recent years, underscoring a persistent problem in India where hundreds die annually from consuming illicit alcohol. To increase its potency, the liquor is often mixed with methanol, a toxic substance that can cause blindness, liver damage, and death.
Inquiry and Political Reactions:
Justice B Gokuldas, leading the one-man commission investigating the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, began his inquiry on Friday. The retired Madras High Court judge visited Kallakurichi Government Medical College Hospital but declined to comment to reporters.
On Saturday, AIADMK legislators, led by opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami, demanded an adjournment of the question hour to discuss the incident. Speaker M Appavu ruled against adjourning the question hour but promised time during zero hour for the discussion. Despite this, AIADMK members persisted and eventually walked out of the Assembly.
Palaniswami reiterated his call for a CBI probe, dismissing the state-appointed one-man commission’s inquiry as inadequate. He claimed essential medicines, including an antidote to methanol, were unavailable when needed.
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Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian mocked Palaniswami for confusing ‘Omeprazole’ with ‘Fomepizole,’ the latter being the actual antidote for methanol poisoning. Subramanian accused the AIADMK of politicizing the tragedy and rejected calls for a CBI inquiry, asserting that the government has been transparent in its response.
Legal and State Actions:
The Madras High Court criticized the Tamil Nadu government and directed it to submit a detailed report on measures taken to curb the sale of illicit arrack. This directive came during a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation filed by AIADMK’s legal wing secretary, I S Inbadurai. The court has scheduled the next hearing for June 26.
In response to the tragedy, Kerala Excise Minister M.B. Rajesh ordered intensified surveillance and raids across the state to prevent the flow of spurious liquor. He instructed thorough inspections at all checkposts and border areas, deploying additional personnel to monitor vehicles entering Kerala.
