In New Delhi [India], Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday condemned the Kallakurichi Hooch tragedy in Tamil Nadu, which claimed 56 lives, and attacked the Congress Party, saying it has not spoken a single word word against the incident.
There were a total of 216 patients admitted to four hospitals in Tamil Nadu after consuming illicit liquor, of whom 56 have died, according to an official.
In a conversation with ANI, Sitharaman said, "More than 200 people are still in the hospital at a critical stage. 56 people have died and most of them belong to the scheduled caste... I condemn the incident. I am surprised that the Congress has not uttered a single word against this. In a state where licensed liquor is sold in government-run shops called 'Tasmak', illicit chemical-based liquor is not served in Kallakuruchi city centre. Does the government know about this?"
Inquiring about the Congress Party, he added: "Where is Congress Party president Mallikarjun Kharge? Has he lost sympathy for the people living in Tamil Nadu? Where is Rahul Gandhi? He is talking about South votes. "He is contesting elections only because he is sure to win. When Dalits are dying due to spurious alcohol, no statement is coming from Rahul Gandhi or Khargeji. I demand that this entire matter be handed over to the CBI for investigation."
"The Congress should pay attention to Tamil Nadu and not ignore it just because its alliance partner is running the state," she said.
The Congress and the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu are allies in the INDIA bloc and fought unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Earlier today, the death toll in the Tamil Nadu Hooch tragedy rose to 56, according to the district administration report.
According to information shared by district collector, Kallakurichi, there were a total of 216 patients admitted to four hospitals in Tamil Nadu after consuming illicit liquor.
At Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer), Pondy, 17 patients are alive and three have been declared dead, while at Vilupuram Medical College, four people are alive and four have been declared dead.
Most of the deaths occurred at Kallakurichi Medical College, where 31 people died and 108 are alive.
At Salem Medical College, 30 people are alive, while 18 have been reported dead.
"There are 160 people admitted to the aforementioned hospitals and 55 people have died," according to official data.
152 male patients are alive in the incident, while 51 are dead.
There were a total of 216 patients admitted to four hospitals in Tamil Nadu after consuming illicit liquor, of whom 56 have died, according to an official.
In a conversation with ANI, Sitharaman said, "More than 200 people are still in the hospital at a critical stage. 56 people have died and most of them belong to the scheduled caste... I condemn the incident. I am surprised that the Congress has not uttered a single word against this. In a state where licensed liquor is sold in government-run shops called 'Tasmak', illicit chemical-based liquor is not served in Kallakuruchi city centre. Does the government know about this?"
Inquiring about the Congress Party, he added: "Where is Congress Party president Mallikarjun Kharge? Has he lost sympathy for the people living in Tamil Nadu? Where is Rahul Gandhi? He is talking about South votes. "He is contesting elections only because he is sure to win. When Dalits are dying due to spurious alcohol, no statement is coming from Rahul Gandhi or Khargeji. I demand that this entire matter be handed over to the CBI for investigation."
"The Congress should pay attention to Tamil Nadu and not ignore it just because its alliance partner is running the state," she said.
The Congress and the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu are allies in the INDIA bloc and fought unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Earlier today, the death toll in the Tamil Nadu Hooch tragedy rose to 56, according to the district administration report.
According to information shared by district collector, Kallakurichi, there were a total of 216 patients admitted to four hospitals in Tamil Nadu after consuming illicit liquor.
At Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer), Pondy, 17 patients are alive and three have been declared dead, while at Vilupuram Medical College, four people are alive and four have been declared dead.
Most of the deaths occurred at Kallakurichi Medical College, where 31 people died and 108 are alive.
At Salem Medical College, 30 people are alive, while 18 have been reported dead.
"There are 160 people admitted to the aforementioned hospitals and 55 people have died," according to official data.
152 male patients are alive in the incident, while 51 are dead.
