Sterlite: Tamil Nadu CM blames DMK for inciting violence

Chennai: The violence and police firing in Thoothukudi that claimed 13 lives rocked the Tamil Nadu assembly on Tuesday with Chief Minister K Palaniswami blaming the DMK, and “some anti-social elements” for the violence and maintaining that the subsequent police action was “unavoidable”. He also asserted that stern action would be taken if the Commission of Inquiry finds that anyone mishandled that situation.

Calling the Government Order for closure of the Sterlite copper plant an 'eyewash' and 'drama', DMK members staged a walkout, with their leader M.K. Stalin saying the party would boycott the House proceedings “until the Chief Minister accepts moral responsibility and resigns, and Sterlite is permanently shut.”

Members of DMK's ally Congress, wearing black badges, sat through the CM's speech that stretched for over an hour, before walking out saying they did not get the answer they expected from the government. The Congress legislature party leader K R Ramasamy pointedly asked if the 'incidents' were “right or wrong” and also demanded transfer of the probe into the violence-firing to the CBI.

To this, CM said a Commission of Inquiry, headed by Justice Aruna Jagadeesan, has been set up and based on its findings, “appropriate action will be taken if anyone is found to have committed wrongs.” Expressing grief over the deaths, he wondered how a comment like right or wrong can be made when an inquiry panel was seized of the matter.

Earlier, tabling a report on the Thoothukudi incidents, he said measures like tear gas and baton charge were used against those who indulged in violence. "In unavoidable circumstances, police personnel were forced to take action," he said in an apparent reference to the police firings. He urged the people of Thoothukudi not to succumb to instigations by anyone and cooperate for the continuation of peace.

Soon after question hour, Leader of the Opposition M K Stalin, attired in black, targeted the government for issuing a Government Order (GO) for closure of Vedanta group's copper plant, rather than convening the Cabinet and taking a policy decision in this regard. The GO, he said, was an "eyewash and drama," tantamount to signalling the Sterlite management to approach the court, and was much like what happened in 2013, he said.

Palaniswami hit back at Stalin, saying the protest against the unit had been going on for 22 years and it was DMK which was enacting a 'drama' on the issue.

He demanded to know why it was not closed when DMK was in power for 10 years (1996-2001 and 2006-11). Also, land allocation for Sterlite expansion was made only during the DMK regime, he said.

"DMK is trying to portray as if the (AIADMK) government has done something wrong on the issue. However, the people know who is enacting a drama," he said.

Palaniswami said the G.O for closure of Sterlite was issued only after consulting legal experts.

He said though the anti-Sterlite protest group agreed for a peaceful demonstration on May 22, some political parties and outfits joined it 'all of a sudden' to push the government to a corner and created a law and order problem. He named DMK legislator Geetha Jeevan as the one who had led a crowd of about 200 party members in a march towards the collectorate.

"Some infiltrated the demonstration (rally) and indulged in violence by hurling stones at the police, chased and assaulted them, damaged the collectorate building and set on fire government and private vehicles," he said and later showed photographs to prove it.

He said vehicles parked in the residential quarters of Sterlite were set on fire. Similarly Thoothukudi South Police State and a district industries office were damaged. All efforts were made by police to halt the arsonists and rein in violence to safeguard the lives of public and guard property who used measures like tear-gas and baton-charge, CM said.

Stalin said the firing would not have occurred had adequate police personnel been deployed. Palaniswami's remark (made days ago) that anti-socials had infiltrated the rally led to depiction of the innocent public as anti-socials, he alleged.