Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Friday visited Karur for the first time since taking office and inspected the location of the 2025 stampede that claimed 41 lives. During the visit, he called for accountability over the handling of the event and announced plans to build a memorial in honour of the victims.
Speaking at the gathering, Vijay said officials from neighbouring Perambalur had reportedly cautioned about the swelling crowd, but no similar alert was issued by the Karur Police. He noted that the local police had escorted him to the venue, giving him confidence that the situation was under control.
The Chief Minister questioned whether adequate security arrangements had been made for the large gathering and sought answers on who was responsible for overseeing crowd management.
Vijay also criticised political parties especially the DMK for, in his view, attempting to politicise the tragedy instead of focusing on the needs of the affected families and ensuring accountability.
Announcing the construction of a memorial through Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), he said the monument would commemorate those who lost their lives while serving as a lasting reminder of the importance of effective crowd management and public safety.
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Retirement buzz surrounds Rajinikanth
Speculation over the future of superstar Rajinikanth’s acting career has resurfaced, with reports suggesting he may consider retiring after completing his milestone 175th film. However, neither the actor nor his representatives have issued any statement confirming the reports.
According to industry buzz, the veteran actor is said to be evaluating his future in cinema as the physical demands of film shoots continue to increase. Despite the rumours, Rajinikanth remains committed to his current projects.
He is awaiting the release of ‘Jailer 2’, directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, which is scheduled to arrive in theatres later this year. He is also working on ‘Thalaivar 173’, directed by Ashwath Marimuthu. There is also a film that reunites him with Kamal Haasan.
Industry reports further suggest that composer Anirudh Ravichander is likely to score music for all of Rajinikanth’s upcoming films, including his landmark 175th project.
This is not the first time retirement speculation has surrounded the actor. Similar reports surfaced after ‘Baba’ underperformed at the box office in 2002, but Rajinikanth returned with several successful films. As of now, the latest reports remain unverified.