Delegation of NDA MPs demands impartial judicial probe into Karur stampede

A delegation of MPs from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), probing the September 27 Karur stampede that claimed 41 lives, inspected the site of the incident at Velusamypuram on Tuesday (September 30, 2025). They also visited the Karur Government Medical College Hospital and interacted with those injured in the stampede.

The eight-member fact-finding team is led by MP and actor Hema Malini, and includes former Union Minister Anurag Thakur, MPs Tejasvi Surya, Brij Lal, Aparajita Sarangi, Rekha Sharma, Shrikant Shinde of the Shiv Sena, and Putta Mahesh Kumar of the Telugu Desam Party.

Speaking to reporters at the hospital, Ms. Malini described the incident as “deeply saddening.” “The larger question is: who is responsible for this tragedy? Who organised it, and how did the administration give permission for such a gathering at this location?” she asked.

She noted that the venue could not hold even a small number of people, but permission had allegedly been granted for tens of thousands. “In the history of politics, such a tragedy has not happened before,” she said, adding that accountability must be fixed both on the organisers and the administration.

Mr. Thakur said the team had prepared a list of questions to be posed to both the organisers and officials. “Lives have been lost. A free and fair inquiry by a sitting Supreme Court judge is necessary to identify the lapses of the officials and the organisers,” he said. He added that the district administration would be asked to provide a detailed reply within a week.

Mr. Thakur also criticised the State government for its handling of the situation. “What was the police department doing? What was the intelligence doing? The ruling party must answer,” he said.

“When we reached the spot, we could not contain ourselves. Small children were among those killed; they had simply come to see an actor. The responsibility of preventing this lies with the organisers and the administration,” Ms. Malini further said.

The delegation will submit its findings to the BJP central leadership.

The members arrived at Coimbatore airport on Tuesday morning. Speaking to the media then, Ms. Malini said the members would visit the homes of all 41 people who were killed in the stampede, to deterimine the events that led to the incident. Mr. Thakur said the Karur tragedy held a lesson for all, and that steps should be taken to prevent its recurrence.