Deve Gowda blames K'taka Admn for hooch tragedy

Kancheepuram, May 23 (UNI) Absolving the Tamil Nadu Government of any blame for the hooch tragedy which had so far claimed 191 lives in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda today said the Karnataka Administration should accept moral responsibility for the tragedy.

Speaking to reporters here after visiting the Sri Ekambaranathar Temple here this morning, Mr Gowda said total prohibition was enforced during his son H D Kumaraswamy's tenure as Karnataka Chief Minister and not a single instance of hooch death was reported.

Hence, the present administration should accept responsibility for the tragedy.

Instead of waiting for the new government to take over, the Karnataka Governor should come forward to extend relief to the victims and their families, he said.

''The police officials concerned should be suspended. The deaths occurred due to administrative lapses,'' he said while refusing to answer any query on elections in Karnataka.

Mr Deve Gowda later visited the Kamatchi Amman Temple and the Ahobila Mutt here.

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