Sterlite Copper closure order is legally valid: Palaniswami
Chennai, May 29: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K.Palaniswami on Tuesday said the order issued by the state government shutting down the Sterlite Copper plant is legally valid and blamed the DMK for the violence in Thuthookudi on May 22.
Speaking in the assembly, he said the Government Order closing down the Sterlite Copper's smelter plant in Thuthookudi is valid as the Central Pollution Control Board has not issued any order contrary to it.
Popularly known as the Sterlite plant, the Sterlite Copper is a 400,000 tpa copper smelter plant owned by Vedanta Ltd.
Palaniswami also said it was the DMK government that gave the nod for expansion of smelter capacity.
Citing the action taken by the government before the May 22 police firing on the anti-Sterlite protestors, he said the government had held 14 rounds of talks with the members of the movement.
Palaniswami said a crowd numbering around 20,000 people tried to march to Thuthookudi collectorate and police resorted to baton charge on May 22.
He said DMK leader Geetha Jeevan defying the prohibitory orders staged an agitation when the violence broke as the protestors were instigated by some political parties and anti-social elements.
Thirteen people were killed in the police firing on anti-Sterlite Copper protestors as they turned violent and indulged in arson.
For more than two decades, the people of Thuthookudi have been protesting against the copper smelter plant.
Following the death of 13 persons in the police firing, the Tamil Nadu government orderd closure of the smelter plant.
Not satisfied with the closure order, major opposition party DMK decided to boycott the state assembly sessions until the Tamil Nadu cabinet takes a policy decision to shut down the Sterlite Copper smelter plant.
In a statement issued by the party, Whip R. Chakrapani said the Palaniswami government issued an order closing down the copper smelter plant without convening a cabinet meeting and taking a policy decision.
Contending this would enable the company to seek relief from the courts, he alleged that the Chief Minister was not sincere about shutting down the plant.
The DMK lawmakers on Tuesday attended the Assembly wearing black shirts to condemn the May 22 police firing.
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UP: BJP MLA falls on rail track while flagging off Vande Bharat train
Etawah (UP), Sep 16: BJP's Etawah MLA Sarita Bhadauriya fell onto the railway tracks while vying to wave the green flag for the Agra-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express here on Monday.
Purported videos of the incident surfaced on social media.
The incident occurred amidst a crowded platform as the train arrived around 6 pm. The 61-year-old second-term BJP lawmaker was among a host of people holding the green flag as they stood at the platform, the video showed.
Following the virtual inauguration of the Vande Bharat train by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the train, numbered 20175, was flagged off by the Rail Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu from Agra.
When contacted by PTI, BJP's Etawah unit treasurer Sanjeev Bhadauriya said, "The MLA was helped off the track and she then waited for some time at the platform for the flag-off event."
"Later she consulted doctors and is resting at her home now. She did not suffer any visible physical injuries. If there is any internal injury, it is yet to be confirmed," Bhadauriya said.
The train made stops at Tundla before arriving at Etawah station. Upon its arrival, a commotion ensued on the platform as various political figures, including Samajwadi Party MP Jitendra Douwhare, former BJP MP Ram Shankar, and current MLA Sarita Bhadauriya, gathered to participate in the flag-off, the videos showed.
As the train's horn signalled its departure, the platform became chaotic with supporters jostling for position. In the ensuing melee, the MLA was pushed off the platform and she fell onto the railway tracks in front of the train, it showed.
The train was stopped in time by bystanders, preventing a major accident. Bhadauriya was quickly rescued from the tracks by the police and taken to the hospital, according to eyewitnesses.
Talking about the operation date for the Vande Bharat Express, PRO Prashasti Srivastava from the Agra division of the railways said that the date will be announced soon.
The train will cover the distance between Agra and Varanasi in approximately seven hours. The return train will operate as number 20176 from Varanasi to Agra, while the Agra-Varanasi service will be number 20175.
Etawah, UP: The flag-off ceremony for the Agra-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express faced chaos due to heavy rush, and BJP's Etawah Sadar MLA, Sarita Bhadoria, fell in front of the train pic.twitter.com/p10CfbDIF0
— IANS (@ians_india) September 16, 2024
