'Would call it murder': BJP targets Congress, DMK over Kallakurichi hooch tragedy in Tamil Nadu that killed 56

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Congress and its allies in the INDIA bloc, including the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, for their silence on the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, which has claimed 56 lives so far. The BJP held a press conference to address the issue.
In the press conference, BJP MP Sambit Patra directed attacks towards the Congress leadership, specifically naming Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rahul Gandhi, and Sonia Gandhi for their silence on the issue.
"More than 56 people have died and many of them are critical, still about 200 people are admitted to the hospital. This is such an important issue and I am surprised that Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, DMK and all the people of the INDIA alliance are silent on this issue. If more than 32 Dalits are killed in this country, I would call it a murder, this is not death," Patra said.
Later on Sunday, the Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman sharply criticized the leadership of the Congress party while talking to the ANI news agency. She also underlined the casualties suffered by the Dalit community in the Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy.
"More than 200 people are still in hospital in a critical stage. 56 people have died and most of them are from the scheduled caste... I condemn the incident. I am shocked that the Congress has not uttered a word against this. In a state where licensed liquor is available from shops run by the government called 'Tasmak'. Despite that, in the middle of the city of Kallakurichi chemical-based illicit liquor is served... Where is the Congress party President Mallikarjun Kharge? Where is Rahul Gandhi? He contests elections just because he is assured that he will win... When Dalits are dying because of spurious liquor, not a statement comes from Rahul Gandhi... I demand that this whole matter be given to the CBI for investigation," finance minister said.

The death toll in the Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy has risen to 56, according to a report released by the district administration on Sunday. The District Collectorate of Kallakurichi reported that a total of 216 patients were admitted to four hospitals in Tamil Nadu after consuming illicit liquor.
Earlier on Saturday, BJP workers in Tamil Nadu staged a protest over the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy.
Previously, Tamil Nadu government had ordered a judicial inquiry into the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, to be led by retired Madras high court judge Justice B Gokuldas. Justice Gokuldas is expected to submit a report within three months.
Chief minister MK Stalin announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh to the families of each deceased victim and Rs 50,000 to each person under treatment.
The CB-CID of Tamil Nadu police, entrusted with investigating the tragedy, has initiated a probe under SP Shantharam.
Seven people have been arrested in connection with the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, according to the Kallakurichi collector.