Suraj family refuses body until Vijay provides financial assistance

SALEM: The family of Suraj, 37, a guest worker from Maharashtra, who collapsed and died while attending the meeting of TVK executives in Salem on Friday, said on Saturday that they would not accept his body until Vijay provided financial assistance to the family.

A meeting of TVK executives was held at a private ground on the Seelanaickkanpatty bypass road in Salem district, where 5,000 executives from 11 assembly constituencies were invited to participate.

During the event, Vijay spoke in a campaign van among the executives. At that time, Suraj suffered a seizure and fainted. The medical team present provided him with first aid. As his condition was critical, he was taken to a private hospital nearby, but he died on the way.

After receiving information, Annadhanapatty police reached the spot and inquired about his identity. Police found that Suraj was from Maharashtra, lived in Salem for 20 years and worked as a worker in a silver workshop.

Suraj was survived by his wife Priyanka, 32, a 10-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old son. His body was kept at the Salem Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital, and an autopsy was completed.

The family and relatives said it was shocking that TVK leaders did not come to console Suraj’s family. They said no one came, and the family and relatives remained at the Salem Government Hospital.

??"Suraj was a wage laborer. He was the one who provided income to the family. Now the family is grieving due to his death. Therefore, we will not accept the body until Vijay provides financial assistance to Suraj's family," said Lakshmanan, maternal uncle to Suraj. He added that so far, not a single person has come to offer condolences on behalf of TVK.

Friends and relatives said they were shocked that Vijay did not issue a statement condoling Suraj’s death at his public meeting. They also said TVK claimed Suraj already had a heart problem, but friends said he did not have any such problem.

On social media, TVK Joint General Secretary Nirmal Kumar said a man named Suraj, who came to see the meeting held in Salem, suddenly fainted due to illness. He was immediately given first aid and the club administrators took him to the hospital in time. But it is sad that Suraj died of a heart attack. "We express our deepest condolences on the unexpected death of Suraj," Nirmal Kumar said.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Valentine's day wishes, messages and quotes !