News Tamil Nadu

Family Of TN Man Who Died In RaGa’s BJ Yatra Allegedly Made To Run Pillar-To-Post To Get Solatium, TNCC Denies

May 3, 2023
The Commune

Congress workers and family of Yathirai Ganesan, who died during Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra are reportedly upset that the party leadership is making them run pillar to post to get the compensation amount announced by Tamil Nadu Congress Committee Leader KS Alagiri.

Ganesan hails from Keezavasal Bhumal Ravuththan Koil Street in Thanjavur. He has been involved in the Congress Party since his childhood and has held various positions in the Congress Party for about thirty years. He is known as ‘Yathirai Ganesan’ as he has participated in various walks organized by the party.

Ganesan, who took part in Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, died in an accident near Nagpur, Maharashtra, on 11 November 2022. Following this, national and state leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, offered their condolences to Ganesan. In addition, the Maharashtra Congress Committee and the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee both announced that they would provide ₹5 lakh in relief. However, no relief has been provided to Ganesan’s family thus far, and there has been a complaint that his family is constantly being harassed to get the amount.

“My brother is a devoted supporter of the Congress. At the age of 59, he took part in Rahul Gandhi’s Yatra. When he died after being hit by a truck, the party announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh. However, his family is yet to receive a single rupee. To make matters worse, the party provided no assistance in obtaining the death certificate. When his body was received from the Nagpur Hospital mortuary, they gave us a certificate in Hindi. We have no idea what that is for. We presented that certificate to the Tamil Nadu government offices here, but they refused to accept it as it was not a death certificate.”, Ganesan’s brother Srinivasan was quoted saying in a report by Junior Vikatan

He added, “We complained about it to Thanjavur Congress District President Rajendran. He did, however, direct us to meet with the president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, KS Alagiri. We met him a few weeks ago. After hearing us, KS Alagiri asked us to meet with the Thanjavur district president again. When we told this to the Thanjavur district president, he asked us to complain to Karur MP Jothimani. When we contacted Jothimani MP’s assistant Loganathan through WhatsApp, he asked us to be patient and said he would notify MP Jothimani about the situation. But we never heard from them again.”

Thanjavur Congress Committee workers were quoted saying that KS Alagiri has ‘mentally retired’ from politics before the party formally sidelines. They accused Alagiri of being unconcerned about the welfare of the party or its volunteers. and that he is unconcerned

“That is why he ignores Yathirai Ganesan’s family. If they don’t get justice soon, we will go on a walk to condemn KS Azhagiri.”, they told.

Junior Vikatan quoted Thanjavur Congress District President Rajendran as saying, “We have taken the necessary steps to provide financial assistance to Yatrai Ganesan’s family. Due to the Karnataka elections, many party leaders are involved in election work there. I instructed them to take a lawyer with them when they reveived the body from Nagpur. I am an ordinary person. I can’t fix everything on my own.”

He further added, “The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee has decided to give the money. However, it didn’t happen due to a wedding in President KS Alagiri’s family. That is why there has been a minor hiccup. The Maharashtra Congress has not stated that it will provide relief. Only a party executive in that state said that it would give relief. I am following it continuously. I will receive it soon.”

However, a tweet from the official handle of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee shows that Thanjavur district president Rajendran had erred and that the Maharashtra Congress promised ₹5 lakhs. The tweet reads, “₹5 lakhs will be given on behalf of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee and another ₹5 lakhs will be given on behalf of the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra State Mr. Ashok Chavan.”

Tamil Nadu BJP state secretary SG Suryah came down heavily on Congress saying that the grand old party is looting its own solatium. SG Suryah said in his Twitter handle that the family of Yathirai Ganesan who passed away in an accident while participating in Rahul Gandhi’s ‘flop’ Bharat Jodo Yatra, was made to run from pillar to post to get that solatium.

“But now his family is made to run from pillar to post to get that solatium. What a shame this Grand Old Party is looting its own solatium,” SG Suryah said.

Following the backlash, an alleged press release of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee was shared by the party’s state Genneral Secretary in which it was stated that a compensation of ₹5 lakhs was given to Yathirai Ganesan’s brother Srinivasan and sister TR Ramani on April 21st.

However, this press release was not found on TNCC’s official social media handle until the time of publishing this article.

Responding to Lakshmi Ramachandran, SG Suryah questioned whether the remaining promised amount was looted and shared amongst the party’s office bearers.

(With inputs from Junior Vikatan)

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