BJP leader K. Annamalai took a sharp dig at actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief and DMK ally Kamal Haasan over his visit to the Karur stampede site, accusing him of siding with the ruling DMK and speaking in defence of the administration.
He said, “I am finally happy Kamal Hassan ji as a politician, as a leader of the Makkal Needhi Maiam has never found time to visit Karur, over the last many many years. Now suddenly he has found time to visit Karur – today he has gone so I am happy that he visited Karur. Now we all know what he would have spoken at Karur. We have also seen.”
“Kamal Haasan has sold his soul a long time back for one Rajya Sabha seat,” Annamalai said, referring to Haasan’s recent nomination to the Upper House. “Whatever Kamal Haasan speaks, people of Tamil Nadu are not going to take him seriously. Going to Karur and saying the administration is not at fault, who will accept that?” he added.
On 6 October 2025, Haasan visited the site of the September 27 stampede in Karur that left 41 people dead and over 50 injured during a rally organised by actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder Vijay. Calling it a tragedy, Haasan said the organisers must take responsibility instead of shifting blame. “We came here to ensure justice and express condolences,” he said, adding that it was not the time for political blame games.
He also defended the police, saying they had done their duty and should not be criticised. Haasan reserved particular praise for the Chief Minister’s response to the crisis. “A dignified politician should show all the qualities of leadership and how to conduct things. That has been shown, and we are proud of it,” he said.
Annamalai criticised the MNM chief for what he described as a pattern of favouring the DMK government. “Kamal Haasan is a fine actor, no doubt. But when it comes to politics, whatever he says is one-sided and meant to favour DMK, even on an issue like Karur,” he said.
#WATCH | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: On actor and MNM chief Kamal Haasan’s to Karur stampede site today, BJP leader K. Annamalai says, “…Kamal Haasan has sold his soul long time back for one Rajya Sabha seat. Post that, whatever Kamal Haasan speaks, people of Tamil Nadu are not going… pic.twitter.com/jpumkIXY3J
— ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2025
(With inputs from India Today)
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