TN liquor tragedy: AIADMK begins hunger strike, demands CBI probe and MK Stalin’s resignation | Latest News from India

AIADMK MPs and party workers led by Opposition Leader Edappadi K Palaniswami began their hunger strike on Thursday demanding a CBI investigation into the Kallakurichi liquor tragedy.

The MPs, who were suspended on Wednesday for disrupting the proceedings of the assembly, began their hunger strike at 9 am today at the Rajarathinam Stadium in Chennai.

AIADMK members demanded the resignation of Chief Minister MK Stalin in view of the tragedy.

As of Thursday morning, 63 people have been killed and 229 people affected in the tragedy. A total of 88 people have been discharged in Tamil Nadu, ANI reported.

With the strike, the politicians also want to denounce the refusal of permission to raise the issue in the state parliament.

Earlier, a resolution was passed on Wednesday to suspend the AIADMK MPs for disrupting the proceedings of the session, ANI reported.

Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker Appavu said, “It is painful to see that in a democratic assembly, the AIADMK leaders keep disrupting the proceedings. If this continues, how will other MPs talk about their constituency?”

Palaniswami met Tennessee Governor RN Ravi on Wednesday and demanded a CBI investigation into the matter. The AIADMK party chief handed over a 10-page letter to the governor.

“The death toll is increasing day by day. The departments entrusted with protection and prevention duties have failed, the government has failed, the ministers have failed and ultimately people have died… the government under the Chief Minister, who is also the Home Minister, has failed because of its lack of leadership and ability to solve the problem,” the letter said.

According to PTI, Palaniswami accused the Tennessee government of pursuing “politics of diversion” by remaining indifferent to alcohol-related deaths.

According to PTI, the hunger strike is expected to end at 5 p.m. on Thursday.

Earlier, AIADMK members were expelled from the Tamil Nadu Assembly on June 21 when they tried to raise the issue there. They were later recalled by MK Stalin.

(with inputs from ANI, PTI and HT)