"State government should take responsibility for deaths," Sasikala on hooch tragedy

Kallakurichi (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 20 : After the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy claimed the lives of 34 people, VK Sasikala, a close aide of Tamil Nadu's former CM Jayalalithaa, launched a scathing attack on the state government and said that the government should take responsibility for the deaths.
Sasikala's remarks came after she visited the victims at Kallakurichi Government Medical College.

Speaking with reporters, Sasikala said, "The state government should take responsibility for these deaths. Every year, the deaths are increasing and not decreasing."
She further alleged, "I don't think without the government's knowledge, this incident would have happened."
She said that the government should suspend the officers instead of transferring them. "Within a week, the persons responsible for this incident should be arrested... You should suspend the officers rather than transfer them. If the government is not taking action, then people will make decisions."
Stepping up her attacks at the state government for cremating the bodies, Sasikala said, "I heard cremation is done by the governemnt itself, it's not corona pandemic days where the government take care of cremation. This should not be done and bodies should be handed over to the family members so that they can do it. I ask the Chief Minister to take action strictly."
Meanwhile, AIADMK general secretary Edapaddi K Palaniswami on Thursday also targeted the state government and said the ruling "DMK is behind illicit liquor sales in Tamil Nadu" and drugs are being sold all over the state.
He also demanded the resignation of Chief Minister MK Stalin over the tragedyPalaniswami inspected the Kallakurichi Government Medical College Hospital where illicit liquor victims are hospitalized.
Addressing the press conference, the AIADMK chief said, "Nearly 200 people are affected, 133 are under treatment. One by one people are coming to the hospital. Kallakurichi is the epicentre for illicit. It's making us sad and worrying. All dead and affected are poor and underprivileged."
Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai has also announced a state-wide protest against the Stalin-led DMK Tamil Nadu Government on June 22.
The chief minister has announced Rs 10 lakh for the family of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those being treated in the hospital.
AIADMK advocates have requested the Madras High Court to take up an urgent petition on the Kallakurichi illicit liquor tragedy issue for hearing.
The Madras High Court division bench of Justices D Krishnakumar and K Kumaresh Babu has agreed to hear it on June 21.