DMK instigated violence in anti-Sterlite protests, says CM Palaniswami

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami squarely blamed the opposition DMK for protests turning violent on the hundredth day of agitations against the copper factory run by UK-based Vedanta Resources in Thoothukudi.

"During the protests a rally was spearheaded by DMK MLA Geetha Jeevan. It was them who instigated the violence," chief minister Palaniswami said in a speech in the Assembly.

In the state assembly, which convened on Tuesday, DMK moved a motion to postpone all business slated for the day to discuss the deaths in the police firing and demanded resignation of the chief minister and suspension of police officials who oversaw security in Thoothukudi.


After the speaker refused to admit the motion, DMK legislators, all dressed in black, walked out of the assembly vowng to keep up the boycott until their demands are met.

Thirteen people were killed and many others injured when police opened fire on anti-Sterlite protesters on May 22. The police action led to adverse public sentiment, forcing the government to issue an order yesterday formally shutting down the Rs 2,130-crore copper smelter. Today the government followed up by cancelling a lease agreement allotting 343 acres of land to the company for its second smelter.

The political action in the assembly follows a series of moves by the ruling AIADMK to stop Vedanta Sterlite from increasing its copper-manufacturing capacity. Before the shuttering, it had on April 9 refused to renew the licence - which expired March end - for operating the plant.

Vedanta Resources, which had run the plant for over two decaded, called the closure "unfortunate" and said it would study the order before deciding on the future course of action.