Chennai: “He broke down and cried while talking to me,” said a parent who lost children in the Karur stampede a month ago. He was talking about a meeting with actor-turned-politician Vijay, who interacted with the bereaved families at a private resort in Mamallapuram in Chennai Monday.
Family members of those who died in the stampede during Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam campaign, told ThePrint that Vijay apologised to them for the incident and for not being able to travel to Karur.
“He offered to do anything for our family and offered to take care of my family. He also asked me what I want Vijay sir to do for me. Since I have lost my children, I did not have any request to ask him immediately,” a parent who wished to remain anonymous told ThePrint.
On 27 September, during a campaign in Velusamypuram in Karur, 41 people including 16 women and six children died in the stampede.
While all political leaders reached out to the victims immediately, the private meeting held at the resort marks actor-turned-politician Vijay’s first in-person interaction with the families since the tragedy.
Of the 38 families who lost loved ones in the stampede at Karur, 37 families came to Chennai to meet Vijay.
According to those who met Vijay, 46 rooms were booked at the private resort where the bereaved families were accommodated from Sunday. Vijay met each family individually Monday. The meetings started around 10 in the morning, and went on till 6.30 pm Monday.
“While we were all seated in a hall, Vijay was in a private room, where one family after the other went and met him. He spoke to us for half an hour and some spoke and came out early,” the parents quoted above told ThePrint.
Vijay has also assured continued support to the family. Another parent, who did not want to be named either, told ThePrint that actor Vijay offered to arrange a job for him. “I am like your brother. You can ask me for whatever help your family needs. Even if you want a job and change your location, I can do it for you,” another parent quoted Vijay’s words to him while speaking to ThePrint.
Earlier the actor had announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakh for each bereaved family. This has been deposited into the accounts of family members.
While there has been no official statement from Vijay’s team on the visit, those close to the actor said the meetings were private and meant as a gesture of personal empathy rather than publicity.
A spokesperson for TVK told ThePrint that the actor wanted to meet the victims in Karur.
“But, there was difficulty in finding a location in Karur district. A lot of the venues which initially agreed to rent out the place later refused. The meeting was planned on 17 October in Karur itself. But, due to the venue issue, we could not conduct it in Karur,” the spokesperson told ThePrint.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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