Outfits oppose Kathiramangalam oil wells, dispute CM's charges

Chennai: Outfits protesting against ONGC projects in Kathiramangalam village in Thanjavur on Monday disputed Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami's statement in the Assembly that the villagers resorted to violence and warned of protests before the Secretariat and BJP office if the arrested protesters were not released.

Leader of Opposition M.K. Stalin on Monday flayed Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s statement in the Assembly that people in Kathiramangalam village in Thanjavur attacked police and set fire to hay stocks.

Addressing a joint press meet in the city, E.Sathya (MDMK), T. Velmurugan (Thamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi), Vanniyarasu (VCK), M.H. Jawahirullah (MMK) and Udhayakumar (Pachai Thamizhagam) alleged that police had attacked the villagers deliberately and added that the CM's statement that the villagers resorted to violence is false.

Police had attacked women and threatened the protesting farmers, Velmurugan said.and warned that they would protest in front of the Secretariat, Chief Minister's office and BJP office on July 10 if the arrested people were not released. The movements urged ONGC to move out of Kathiramangalam and the village should be declared as protected agriculture zone.

In Thanjavur, co-ordinator of the Cauvery Rights Retrival Committee P. Maniyarasan told reporters that the outfits opposing the ONGC projects would intensify the protests on July 10 if an amicable solution is not found to the issue. Co-ordinator of federation of farmers associations, P.R. Pandian who met Thanjavur collector said the official had promised to close the oil wells in Kathiramangalam.

In a statement here, CPM state secretary G. Ramakrishnan said police had resorted to brutal and blind assault on people who protested against the ONGC oil wells out of fear after the crude oil pipelines burst and oil leaked into agricultural fields.

Condemning the assault, he said cases had been filed and several people had been arrested.