DMK, allies to stage protest tomorrow

Chennai: DMK working president M. K. Stalin who rushed to Thoothukudi to see the injured and meet the families of 11 people killed in police firing demanded the resignation of Chief Minister and DGP T. K. Rajendran, over the anti-Sterlite violence. Also, DMK and allies announced agitation on May 25 on the issue.  

Mr Palaniswami and Rajendran should own moral responsibility for the incident and resign, the DMK leader who cancelled his programme to attend the swearing-in ceremony of H. D. Kumaraswamy as Chief Minister of Karnataka on Wednesday, in order to visit the families of the deceased in southern coastal town, said.

Speaking to reporters at the airport here on Wednesday, he sought to know why the CM had not sent the local ministers to visit the affected spot and engage the protesters in peace talks. When asked to comment on fisheries minister D. Jayakumar justifying the police firing, Mr. Stalin shot back, “so many lives have been sacrificed. No preventive measures were in place. They know that rally will take place.” He also sought to know who had ordered police firing on the peaceful protesters.

Meanwhile, the DMK and allies will stage a massive protest demonstration in front of all district headquarters on May 25 to condemn police firing on anti-Sterlite protesters and also demanding permanent closure of the Sterlite's copper smelter plant. Apart from DMK, its allies Congress and IUML, leaders of friendly parties like MDMK, VCK, CPI, CPI (M), Dravidar Kazhagam and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi would take part in the demonstration.