In a detailed and highly critical press conference, veteran actor and political commentator S Ve Shekher delivered a powerful assessment of the current political landscape, focusing heavily on actor Vijay’s controversial meet in Karur and his own evolving relationship with the ruling DMK party and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. Shekher did not mince words, directly attributing the fatal Karur stampede to Vijay’s lack of discipline and questioning his readiness for a political career.
Scathing Critique of Vijay’s Failure in Karur
Shekher launched a strong, multi-point critique of actor Vijay and his team regarding the tragic fan meet in Karur, where a stampede resulted in the loss of lives. He declared that the fundamental errors lay squarely with the actor’s camp.
Shekher articulated a “three-pronged” mistake that led to the incident:
- Failure to Control the Crowd: Shekher stated that the “basic mistake” was Vijay’s failure to control the large, chaotic crowd that had gathered to see him.
- Violation of Security Protocol: He accused the organizers of exceeding the crowd limit specified in the security information provided to the police, arguing they overran the initial plan.
- Lack of Discipline and Delay: The most significant error, according to Shekher, was the “colossal mistake” of arriving a stunning seven hours late after announcing the event for 10:00 AM. He stressed, “If a leader himself lacks discipline, how can it be expected from his followers?”
Shekher labeled the large gathering as an “undisciplined” and “degenerate crowd,” suggesting that their behavior was the primary cause of the stampede.
He further criticized Vijay’s handling of the deaths, specifically the pre-recorded, four-minute video message released four days later. Shekher argued that a true leader, unlike a “cinema actor,” would have immediately gone to the hospital to meet the victims. He asserted that Vijay’s team was granted permission for a “meeting” but illegally turned the event into a “road show,” making the actor culpable for the consequences. Ultimately, he questioned the star’s ambition, asking whether a person unable to control a crowd of 27,000 could realistically hope to govern a state of 10 crore people.
DMK Defence and Endorsement of CM Stalin
Shekher used the opportunity to address his own political affiliations, offering a strong defense of the DMK and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. He clarified his personal ties, noting that the Chief Minister had attended his 7,000th drama function “as a friend”.
Dismissing claims that the DMK is anti-Brahmin, an accusation he attributed to the Dravida Kazhagam, Shekher highlighted the universality of the DMK government’s welfare schemes.
“Is the DMK an untouchable party? Has the DMK become an enemy to Brahmins? Are they saying that Brahmins should not travel in the free buses we run? Are they denying the women’s rights stipend to Brahmin ladies? This is not the case.”
He stated unequivocally that he has been acquainted with the Karunanidhi family for 40 years. Shekher also defended the CM’s decision not to visit the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy site, arguing that the DMK’s administrative action of suspending police officials for the illegal activity was the appropriate governmental response, differentiating it from the tragedy caused by the actor’s team in Karur.
Denouncing BJP Tactics and Personal Threats
Reflecting on his past political associations, Shekher described his former party, the BJP, as a “massive boulder”. He warned that any party that tries to form a coalition with it will “surely sink.”
He denounced the BJP’s decision to send an eight-member team to investigate the Karur incident, calling it a “political exercise”. He highlighted the BJP’s alleged double standards for not dispatching similar investigative teams to address incidents in BJP-ruled states.
Finally, Shekher detailed the continuous threats he has been receiving, which allege he is a “sleeper cell” for Prime Minister Modi, intending to deceive the DMK government. To ensure his family’s safety, he confirmed he has filed a complaint with the police commissioner, seeking additional security for his home, citing continuous attacks dating back to the 1990s.