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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Fan tries to die by suicide over Nikhil Kumaraswamy's bypoll loss
Bengaluru: Channapatna JD(S) candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who lost the byelection to C.P. Yogeshwar of Congress, on Sunday consoled a fan who reportedly attempted to end his life and requested him not to repeat such acts.
Manjunath, fondly called Abhi, had even penned a letter before taking the dangerous step. Nikhil, who called on Manjunath at the latter’s home in Kudloor in Channapatna, expressed shock and sadness over the incident.
Nikhil Kumaraswamy reassured Manjunath, expressing his support during the difficult time. He told him that he was deeply troubled to learn of this incident and emphasised that he would stand by him. Nikhil also promised to offer assistance in any way he could, including helping him secure employment opportunities in the future, as reported by the Deccan Herald.
He also reminded Manjunath of the importance of his children’s well-being, urging him to focus on their future. “Please, look at the faces of your growing children. Even I have a three-year-old son. The children are young, let us take care of their future also. I will arrange some job opportunities for you. I might not be an MLA but this is a challenge. I will get you employed,” he said.
Nikhil told media persons that he is extremely hurt more by Manjunath’s attempt to die than by his loss in the election. “At 7:30 a.m., we got a message that in Valetoopu, Manjunath had consumed poison yesterday. In Channapatna, our workers and leaders have built this party with zeal. Let the admiration be there in your hearts but if it crosses the line, your families get hurt and we get very pained by it,” he was quoted as saying by the publication.
Speaking of his byelection loss, Nikhil reiterated that the JD(S) had got its traditional votes, but that the votes of a particular community went against the party.
“Deve Gowda gave reservation to a community. We tried our last attempt to take that community into confidence. But they conveyed to us that they do not require us. In future, we will take other communities into confidence,” he remarked in a veiled reference to Muslims.
Nikhil lost the election by a margin of 25,413 votes to Congress candidate C.P. Yogeshwar.
