Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday asserted that the DMK dispensation will take “strong measures” against the “anti-social elements” involved in the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy. Urging the opposition parties not to take political mileage, Stalin gave a detailed account of the tragedy.
In his reply to a special call attention motion in the state assembly on the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, which had claimed the lives of at least 49 people exposing the government’s failure to control the brewing of illicit liquor, Stalin said that he takes the responsibility for what happened in Kallakurichi. Stating that 164 people have been admitted to the hospitals in Salem, Villupuram, Kallakurichi and JIPMER In Puducherry, he promised to take stringent action and bring before law all the culprits involved in the brewing of illicit liquor.
“As not just the minister handling the home portfolio, but as the CM of Tamil Nadu, I am not the one to run away from problems. It is because of realising my responsibility that I am providing answers responsibly. I have listed the actions taken. I am answering you after arresting the culprits. I have been taking action against the offenders with an open mind and with an iron hand.”
“47 people have died so far,” Stalin said, giving details of the illicit liquor brewed in the region and the source of Methanol, the toxic chemical which was the cause of death. “The preliminary investigation by the revenue and the police department reveal that the methanol used in brewing was sourced from Puducherry.” He said the government immediately swung into action and transferred the district collector and SP for their negligence in handling the case, he also announced additional relief assistance to the children who lost both or one of their parents in the incident.
The government had already given Rs. 10 lakhs to the families of the victims. With regard to the additional financial assistance, he said the government will bear the educational expenses, including hostel fees and other expenses of the children till their graduation. “The government will pay Rs.5,000 per month as maintenance allowance till the age of 18 to those children who have lost both their parents.
CM also said that the DMK dispensation since it came to power in 2021 had registered as many as 14,606 cases and 10,154 people have been arrested with regard to illicit liquor brewing cases.
He also said that action will be taken based on the recommendations of the Gokuldas inquiry commission - the one-man commission appointed by the government on Wednesday to inquire into the tragedy - to prevent such incidents in the future.
