The Kallakurichi hooch tragedy in Tamil Nadu has claimed 60 lives so far with more than 75 still in hospital undergoing treatment. Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami told the media on Tuesday that the health minister, Ma Subramanian, was ‘unfit’ and demanded his resignation. He stated that the state government had obtained Fomepizole, used for treatment of methanol poisoning, only after he had spoken about it on June 20.
Palaniswami told the media, “The victims were admitted to hospitals in Puducherry, Villupuram, Kallakurichi and Salem on June 19. I raised the issue on the non-availability of Fomepizole injection that is used to treat methanol poisoning in the state on June 20. Only after that were the injections procured. Until then, the victims were not administered Fomepizole. But the minister (Ma Subramanian) lied (on the availability of the drug).”
“He is the most unfit minister in the cabinet as the health department had failed to give appropriate treatment to save lives. To cover up, he has been lying to divert the issue. This is not the first time. Instead of talking about Fomepizole injection, he is talking about the medicine used to treat ulcers,” slammed Palaniswami.
Palaswami also met Governor RN Ravi on Tuesday and demanded that he take action against the ruling DMK over the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy.
Palaniswami reiterated that DMK president and Chief Minister M K Stalin should take responsibility for the loss of lives in the hooch tragedy and step down. He told the media that Governor Ravi had assured him that appropriate action would be taken based on his memorandum. “The investigation should be handed over to the CBI in order to ensure impartiality and fairness in the probe,” he added.
Raj Bhavan said the delegation led by Palaniswami had submitted a memorandum to the Governor regarding the tragic deaths caused by illicit liquor consumption in Kallakurichi and sought a CBI inquiry into it. “They raised serious concern as last year some 22 persons died because of illegal liquor consumption in Chengalpattu and Villupuram, which is a continuing failure of the state government,” said a press release from Raj Bhavan.