Chennai: “He broke down and cried whereas speaking to me,” stated a mum or dad who misplaced kids within the Karur stampede a month in the past. He was speaking a few assembly with actor-turned-politician Vijay, who interacted with the bereaved households at a personal resort in Mamallapuram in Chennai Monday.

Relations of those that died within the stampede throughout Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam marketing campaign, instructed ThePrint that Vijay apologised to them for the incident and for not having the ability to journey to Karur.

On 27 September, throughout a marketing campaign in Velusamypuram in Karur, 41 individuals together with 16 girls and 6 kids died within the stampede.

Whereas all political leaders reached out to the victims instantly, the non-public assembly held on the resort marks actor-turned-politician Vijay’s first in-person interplay with the households because the tragedy.

Of the 38 households who misplaced family members within the stampede at Karur, 37 households got here to Chennai to fulfill Vijay.

In keeping with those that met Vijay, 46 rooms had been booked on the non-public resort the place the bereaved households had been accommodated from Sunday. Vijay met every household individually Monday. The conferences began round 10 within the morning, and went on until 6.30 pm Monday.

“Whereas we had been all seated in a corridor, Vijay was in a personal room, the place one household after the opposite went and met him. He spoke to us for half an hour and a few spoke and got here out early,” the mother and father quoted above instructed ThePrint.

Vijay has additionally assured continued help to the household. One other mum or dad, who didn’t wish to be named both, instructed ThePrint that actor Vijay supplied to rearrange a job for him. “I’m like your brother. You possibly can ask me for no matter assist your loved ones wants. Even in order for you a job and alter your location, I can do it for you,” one other mum or dad quoted Vijay’s phrases to him whereas talking to ThePrint.

Earlier the actor had introduced a compensation of Rs 20 lakh for every bereaved household. This has been deposited into the accounts of relations.

Whereas there was no official assertion from Vijay’s workforce on the go to, these near the actor stated the conferences had been non-public and meant as a gesture of non-public empathy reasonably than publicity.

A spokesperson for TVK instructed ThePrint that the actor wished to fulfill the victims in Karur.
“However, there was problem find a location in Karur district. Numerous the venues which initially agreed to lease out the place later refused. The assembly was deliberate on 17 October in Karur itself. However, because of the venue difficulty, we couldn’t conduct it in Karur,” the spokesperson instructed ThePrint.

(Edited by Viny Mishra)

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