New Delhi. The BJP has questioned the Congress' silence over the poisonous liquor tragedy in Tamil Nadu. So far 58 people have died after consuming poisonous liquor in Kallakurchi, Tamil Nadu on Tuesday night.

BJP President JP Nadda in a letter to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said that this tragedy is a man-made disaster. Its cause is the nexus between the DMK-INDIA coalition government and the illegal liquor mafia.

We need to rise above party lines

He said, "Scheduled Caste people live in large numbers in Karunapuram. I am surprised that when such a big disaster occurred, the Congress party has maintained silence on it. There is a need to rise above party lines on certain issues like welfare and security of SC, ST community. Hollow words, fake rhetoric and empty promises will not be able to correct the injustice done to the SC victims and their families."

Nadda asked Kharge to pressurize his ally DMK government in Tamil Nadu for a CBI inquiry and immediately remove state Excise Minister S. Muthusamy from his post. He also demanded an increase in the compensation amount given to the relatives of the victims.

Rahul Gandhi was also targeted

Nadda said, the people of Tamil Nadu and the entire Scheduled Caste community are witnessing the double standards of the Congress party and especially Rahul Gandhi and the INDIAA alliance leaders. Nadda also urged Kharge to ask Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to either meet the victim families or at least muster the courage to raise their voice on this issue. BJP leader Rajiv Chandrashekhar also targeted Rahul Gandhi over the liquor tragedy and asked whether Rahul would demand the resignation of Tamil Nadu's Excise Minister.

Tamil Nadu BJP delegation met the Governor

A delegation of Tamil Nadu BJP leaders, led by party state president K. Annamalai, on Monday met Governor RN Ravi at Raj Bhavan in connection with the liquor tragedy. The BJP delegation requested the Governor to order a CBI inquiry into the matter.

Meanwhile, AIADMK leaders staged a protest in Kallakurichi district against the state government. The DMK accused the AIADMK and the BJP of trying to politicise the liquor tragedy to gain political mileage.