Karur Stampede: TVK's Aadhav Arjuna Calls For 'Gen Z Protest' In Tamil Nadu, Deletes Post After Backlash

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) General Secretary Aadhav Arjuna has triggered a major controversy after calling for a Gen Z protest in Tamil Nadu.

His comments have come under severe criticism as netizens slam the TVK leader for trying to incite violence in the state, similar to regime-change protests in Nepal that led to the death of at least 51 people.

He is facing widespread demands for his arrest over a now-deleted social media post that critics allege encouraged violence and an uprising against the establishment. The controversy follows a stampede at a TVK rally led by party chief Vijay in Karur on September 27, which tragically resulted in 41 deaths and 60 injuries.

In the deleted post, written in Tamil, Arjuna said, "If the police have become the servants of the ruling class, the only way to restore order is a youth revolution. Just as in Sri Lanka and Nepal, the youth and the Gen Z generation came together to create a revolution against authority, a youth uprising will occur here too. That uprising is going to be the foundation for regime change and the end of state terrorism."

Though Arjuna quickly edited the post to remove the references and later deleted it entirely, screenshots went viral, drawing sharp criticism. DMK Women's Wing Social Media Coordinator Yazhini PM labeled him a "Cyber Terrorist" and alleged the stampede was "willfully orchestrated" by him and TVK chief Vijay, demanding "draconian measures" be taken. Arjuna later posted a message of condolence, expressing profound sorrow for the victims' families.

Meanwhile, an arrest has been made in connection with the stampede. Karur West district secretary V P Mathyiyalagan was arrested, and he is one of three TVK office bearers named in the FIR, along with state general secretary Bussy Anand and deputy general secretary Nirmal Kumar.

The FIR charges the functionaries under serious sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, as well as the Tamil Nadu Public Property Act. Police also stated that TVK chief Vijay's "deliberate" late arrival, combined with functionaries failing to regulate overcrowding and ignoring warnings, led to the chaotic and fatal situation.