Tamil Nadu: CM Stalin announces relief for children of Kallakuruchi hooch victims

The second day of the Tamil Nadu Assembly Session began in Chennai on Friday with a ruckus as AIADMK legislators sporting black clothes raised slogans inside the House over the hooch tragedy in Kallakurichi.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday said the state government will take care of the entire education and hostel expenses of children who have lost either one or both of their parents in the Kallakuruchi hooch tragedy. Speaking in the Assembly today, the chief minister said that 47 people had died in the June 19 incident in Kallakurichi after consuming methanol mixed poisonous illicit liquor.

Terming it as a "painful" incident, the chief minster offered condolences to the families of the victims. "117 people are admitted 47 died. Sixty six people have been were admitted to Kallakurichi Hospital, 32 to Salem Hospital, two persons are admitted to Villupuram Medical Hospital while 16 are in the Pondicherry JIPMER," Stalin said.

The government will provide Rs 5000 monthly assistance until age of 18 for children who have lost both their parents and Rs 5 lakh will be deposited immediately as a fixed deposit in the names of children who have lost both parents, Stalin said while speaking in the Assembly session today. After the minors turn 18, the amount can be withdrawn with interest, the chief minister said.

Similarly, Rs 3 lakh will be deposited as fixed deposit for children who have lost one parent. Priority will be given to them in all government welfare schemes, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister said. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker M Aappavu revoked the eviction of AIADMK members following an appeal by the Chief Minister.

As the Session of the Assembly commenced this morning the opposition AIADMK arrived wearing black clothes and demanded the resignation of Chief Minister M K Stalin who they said should take responsibility for the deaths. Referring to this, Stalin in his address in the Assembly said, "Tamil Nadu Government has taken immediate action. AIADMK members have crossed the Assembly bylaw and created a drama in the assembly."

He further said that he trusted the process of democracy and requested the Speaker to allow the AIADMK MLAs into the assembly. "Opposition has done drama and acted against law and legacy. I trust the process of democracy similar to Kalaingar in how the assembly should function. I have a policy that the principal opposition should participate in the debate. It is indeed that the act of former CM and Ministers should have been avoided here. I request the Speaker to allow AIADMK MLAs into the assembly," Stalin said.

The chief minster said that according to a preliminary investigation of police and revenue it was found that people had became ill after consuming illicit liquor in Kallakurichi on June 19. "Kallakurichi District Collector has been transferred. Kallakurichi SP has been suspended. Other concerned Police officials were also suspended. The case has been transferred to the Crime Branch, Crime Investigation Department (CB-CID). We are taking all required measures effectively to curb drugs that affect future generations. Whoever was connected to these accused would be brought before the law," Stalin said.

There was ruckus both inside and outside the Tamil Nadu Assembly in Chennai, as AIADMK members raised slogans demanding discussion on the Kallakurichi illicit liquor tragedy in which at least 47 persons have lost their lives. Earlier today, three accused in the Kallakurichi illicit liquor case were sent to 15 days of judicial custody and taken to Cudallore Central prison. The Kallakurichi police produced the accused before the district combined court.

Three accused named Govindaraj, Damadoran and Vijaya were sent to 15 days of judicial custody till July 5 by district court judge Sriram. The accused were sent to Cudallore Central Prison. Tamil Nadu Director of Medical Education Sangumani said that at least 47 persons lost their lives in the Kallakurichi district of the State after they consumed illicit liquor on Tuesday.

Tamil Nadu government had ordered a judicial inquiry into the tragedy. The inquiry will be led by retired Madras High Court judge Justice B Gokuldas. Justice Gokuldas will submit a report within three months. The CB-CID of Tamil Nadu police which was handed over charge of investigating the tragedy commenced a probe under SP Shantharam.

Victims are undergoing treatment at the Kallakurichi Government Medical College and Hospital and in Hospitals in Salem, Villupuram, and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) in Puducherry. (ANI)

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