Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu), Oct 27 (PTI) An emotional actor Vijay on Monday apologised to the victims of the September 27 Karur stampede that left 41 dead and over 60 injured, at a one-on-one interaction with them in a closed door meeting in a private resort here.
The near 8-hour meeting came exactly a month after the tragic incident where Vijay told the families that he could not meet them in Karur since he did not get the required permission to travel to the town, located about 400 km from state capital Chennai.
A source in Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) said family members of 37 victims met the actor-politician in this coastal town , about 50 km from Chennai. The party had booked about 50 rooms, the source added.
It was a closed door meeting. Vijay met them individually and lunch was also arranged.
Vijay assured the families monetary support, besides for education, self-employment, and housing, the source added.
During his meeting with the families, Vijay apologised to them for bringing them to Mahabalipuram and said he could not visit Karur as he could not get permission from the authorities. He would certainly visit them in Karur soon, he assured.
The TVK chief, who turned emotional, sought their forgiveness for the tragic incident. Though he could never compensate for the loss of their dear ones, he would take care of the affected families as if they were his own, he said during the personal meeting that lasted for over three hours, the party source said.
Earlier, the family members of the victims were brought in five buses from Karur and later left for their home town.
Vijay’s TVK had arranged the meeting at the resort to enable him to personally meet the bereaved families and convey his condolences.
As many as 41 people lost their lives and over 60 injured in the stampede that occurred at the TVK meeting addressed by Vijay on September 27.
The TVK leadership had earlier in the day instructed its cadres not to visit the resort where Vijay had offered his condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families.
The party said Vijay was likely to resume his political outreach programme that was suspended due to the stampede. PTI JSP SA SA
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