Stalin again calls for TN Chief Minister's resignation
Chennai, May 23: DMK leader M.K. Stalin on Wednesday again called for the resignation of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami after the killing of 10 persons in police firing on protesters marching against the Sterlite Copper Smelting plant in Thoothukudi.
Stalin also cancelled his Bengaluru trip for the swearing-in ceremony of Congress-JD-S coalition government led by H.D. Kumaraswamy in Karnataka. He left for Thoothukudi to assess the situation and meet those injured in the widespread violence on Tuesday.
Talking to reporters at the airport, the DMK leader reiterated his demand, seeking the resignation of the Chief Minister and ouster of the Tamil Nadu police chief.
Stalin also sought to know who ordered police firing on the protesters who were demanding the closure of Vedanta's Sterlite Copper unit over pollution concerns.
The DMK and other parties have announced state-wide protest demonstrations on May 25 to be held in front of all district headquarters. This is to condemn the ruling AIADMK for opening fire on protesters and also demanding permanent closure of the Sterlite plant.
A DMK statement said the Congress and the IUML, MDMK, VCK, CPI, CPI-M, Dravida Kazhagam and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi would participate in the demonstration.
Meanwhile, hundreds of CPI-M workers were arrested for staging protests at several places in Tamil Nadu, including in capital Chennai.
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1,483 locations in Lucknow raided to check black marketing of LPG cylinders, 6 arrested
Lucknow (PTI): Amid the LPG crisis, Uttar Pradesh's Food and Civil Supplies Department conducted raids at 1,483 locations here and arrested six people in an operation to check black marketing of cooking gas cylinders, according to an official statement.
The raids were conducted on Friday, along with the district administration.
As part of the operation, 24 FIRs were registered, said the statement issued by the Uttar Pradesh government late on Friday night.
In line with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's instructions, the Food and Civil Supplies Department and the district administration are continuously monitoring the supply system of LPG cylinders and conducting inspections and raids across the state so that no shortage or irregularity occurs anywhere, it said.
In this regard, Chief Secretary S P Goyal has issued instructions to all district magistrates to take all necessary steps to maintain the availability of petrol, diesel and LPG cylinders.
Uttar Pradesh is the first state to initiate swift and strict action against black marketing. Under this drive, enforcement teams at the district level conducted inspections and raids at a total of 1,483 locations on Friday, the statement said.
During this operation, four FIRs were registered against LPG distributors and 20 against other individuals involved in the black marketing of LPG gas. Six persons were arrested from the spot and prosecution was initiated against 19 individuals, it said.
Through 4,108 LPG gas distributors operating in the state, delivery of LPG cylinders has been ensured to consumers according to their bookings.
Adequate stock of LPG cylinders is available with the distributors, and domestic LPG refills are being supplied as required, the statement said.
To monitor the supply system and ensure quick resolution of any issue, a 24-hour control room has been established at the office of the food commissioner. Officers of the Food and Civil Supplies Department have been deployed there, it said.
Control rooms have also been established in all districts across the state.
