Reports claim TDP’s cheques to Kandukur stampede victims’ families bounced

KANDUKUR: A new controversy has erupted in connection with compensation offered by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for families of the Kandukur stampede victims. A few reports claimed on Thursday that the victims of the Kandukur stampede tragedy did not actually receive the ex-gratia amount as announced by the TDP leaders. At least eight persons were killed in the stampede that occurred at a roadshow of TDP chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu in Kandukur last month. In a second similar tragedy within three days, three persons including women were killed in another stampede incident during the distribution of Sankranthi Chandranna Kanuka kits following a public meeting of Chandrababu Naidu in Guntur.

As some latest reports claim, the cheques distributed by TDP leader Kancherla Srikanth bounced and the ex-gratia amount never reached the families of the deceased. The families of the deceased are feeling cheated by the turn of events. They were reportedly wondering if they were merely offered fake sympathy from the TDP leaders in return for the loss of the lives of their dear ones..

The news sparked criticism that the TDP had only used their show of sympathy for mere optics with no genuine intention to help the families of the victims.

Despite the outcry on the unfortunate deaths, TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu then blamed the police officials while evading accountability for the twin tragedies.

The TDP was accused of risking the lives of its own partymen by organising roadshow in narrow roads to create an impression through visuals that heavy crowds took part in the events. While putting up banners and hoardings on the roads, the TDP leaders were criticised for not bothering to cover a large pothole or put up a warning sign at the incident site in Kandukur. TDP’s rivals allege that this lapse had resulted in several people falling in the drain during the stampede.

Later, Chandrababu Naidu also drew flak for ridiculing these deaths by enumerating castes of the dead victims for petty politics. Latest reports claiming that the cheques issued towards compensation to the victims is providing the cannon fodder to the rival YSRCP to take on Chandrababu Naidu and the TDP.