CPM demands detailed probe into Tirupati stampede

Vijayawada: The CPM state committee has demanded that a detailed inquiry be conducted into the stampede in the TTD queue in Tirupati and the death of six devotees and the culprits be punished. The party’s state committee meeting was held for two days on January 8 and 9 at the party office, in which various issues, including the deaths in Tirupati and the Visakha Steel Plant issue, were discussed. The CPM state committee later passed resolutions. The meeting was attended by CPM politburo member BV Raghavulu, state secretary Y Srinivasa Rao and other leaders. The CPM passed a resolution demanding a detailed inquiry into the stampede and expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims. They said the district officials and the TTD should be held responsible for it. They alleged that the activities of the TTD were widely publicised, but no concrete steps were taken to ensure the safety of the devotees standing in the queue. The CPM leaders said the TTD knew that lakhs of devotees would come for Vaikuntha Ekadasi, but failed to take steps to ensure the safety of the devotees. They alleged that the TTD also failed to provide food, drinking water and toilet facilities to the devotees. They demanded that the kin of the victims should be given a compensation of Rs 1 crore and the injured Rs 25 lakh. Referring to the Vizag Steel Plant and PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Vizag city, the CPM leaders said CM N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan failed to talk about the Vizag Steel Plant during the PM’s visit. The CPM leaders alleged that the NDA leaders failed to take steps to provide mines to the steel plant.