As Tamil Nadu is still reeling from the shock of a devastating stampede during a rally of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay in Karur, a close aide of the actor-politician has kicked up a row by calling for a Gen Z protest against the “wicked government” in the state.
The post of Aadhav Arjuna, the TVK's general secretary, was apparently aimed at the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Still, many questioned its timing—less than 48 hours after the stampede took the lives of 41 people and left scores injured.
Arjuna deleted his post, but the damage was already done. The screenshots of the post were widely shared on social media, pushing Vijay, already under heat over the Karur incident, further on the back foot.
"A youth-led revolution is the only solution. 'Gen Z' revolted in Sri Lanka and Nepal against the ruling government. Here also the youth will lead a revolution,” read the now-deleted post in Tamil.
"That revolution is going to be the reason for a change in government. Under a wicked ruler, even the laws turn wicked," Arjuna further said in his post.
DMK MP Kanimozhi termed the post "irresponsible" and warned it would instigate violence.
There has been no official reaction from the TVK, but party sources told NDTV that they would never instigate people or violence.
Interestingly, Arjuna had issued a statement on Monday, saying the Karur stampede deaths had left him in the “deepest sorrow” of his life.
“Even at this moment, I am unable to move beyond this tragic event. The anguish of the families who have lost their loved ones has plunged me into unrelenting sorrow,” he had said in the statement.