TN hooch tragedy: Union Health Minister JP Nadda wrote a letter to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday, questioning the party's 'stoic silence' on the Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy. 

In his letter, JP Nadda claimed that the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy was a man-made disaster and accused the DMK government of enabling the illicit liquor mafia to operate with impunity in Tamil Nadu.

“Kharge Ji, the tragedy in the Kallakurichi is an entirely man-made disaster and perhaps if the deep nexus between the ruling DMK-INDI Alliance dispensation and the illicit liquor mafia didn't exist, today 56 lives could have been saved,” the letter read.

The BJP chief also mentioned a previous incident in Tamil Nadu in May of this year, in which 23 people died after consuming illicit liquor. He claimed that the BJP warned the DMK government about the state's illicit liquor mafia, but no action was taken.

“In the present case too, media and investigation reports have so far made it clear as to how this business of illicit liquor was functioning with impunity, right in the open and during broad daylight, obviously with patronage from the state and police."

Nadda claimed that instead of accepting responsibility and taking action against the mafia, the state government was involved in a cover-up, resulting in more deaths.

"I was shocked that when such a huge disaster has taken place, the Congress party led by you has maintained a stoic silence on this. At this juncture, the BJP and the entire nation indeed demand that you press upon the DMK-INDI Alliance Tamil Nadu government to go for a CBI probe and ensure the immediate removal of Muthuswamy as minister...," he added.

TN hooch tragedy death toll

According to updated data released by the district administration on Monday, the number of people who died in Tamil Nadu as a result of illicit liquor consumption has risen to 57. A total of 156 people are being treated at various government hospitals across the state after consuming illicit liquor.

- PTC NEWS

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