The proposal to provide jobs for the families of Karur stampede victims should have been discussed and deliberated in the Assembly before being announced, said CPI State secretary M. Veerapandian here on Saturday.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of a party meeting, he also objected to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s speech in Karur, stating that there should be restraint both in speech and body language, because people expect more from him.

Objecting to Karnataka’s stance on Mekadatu, Mr. Veerapandian said this would affect the farmers of Tamil Nadu, and Mettur would not receive water if Karnataka went ahead with the project. The CPI would stage a protest in Hosur against the project. The fraternity between the people of both States must not be vitiated by actions of politicians, he said, referring to the Kannada outfit led by Vatal Nagaraj, who had called for a ban on Tamil movies in Karnataka.

When asked if he shared the views of VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan on the DMK and TVK coming together against the “communal BJP”, he said it was in the interests of the country that secular democratic forces stand as a single force.

The All India Youth Federation would also initiate a signature campaign against drug abuse and sexual violence with the aim to collect 1 crore signatures in the State, Mr. Veerapandian said.

The CPI would launch a 10-day walkathon from August 6 to highlight people’s issues, such as the precarity of the Sivakasi fireworks industry workers, Ambur tannery workers, and handloom weavers, and also to spearhead the cause of free education across the country, he added. The walkathon will be held led by the party across India.

Published - July 11, 2026 11:25 pm IST