Anti-Sterlite protests: Tamil Nadu CM Palaniswami defends police firing in which 13 died
Palaniswami
Palaniswami said If someone is attacked, the natural course would be to defend and safeguard themselves. This is what has been done by the police in response, he said.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday defended the police action during Tuticorin anti-Sterlite protests. 13 people lost their lives in the firing by police during protests on May 22 and 23. More than 70 people are undergoing treatment.
Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Palaniswami said If someone is attacked, the natural course would be to defend and safeguard themselves. This is what has been done by the police in response, he said.
He also blamed certain political parties for the incident.
"The entire episode which happened was primarily because of certain political parties, NGOs and anti-social elements, who took protestors to a wrong path,'' Palaniswami added.
The police fired at protesters on Tuesday when over a lakh them had gathered in massive protests demanding the closure of the unit. At least 13people including a minor girl were shot dead by the police, leading to massive public anger.
The foundation stone of Sterlite’s copper-smelting plant in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi district was laid by the late former chief minister of Tamil Nadu, J Jayalalithaa, in the year 1994.
For over two decades, locals here have been fighting cases in various courts to protest its ongoing operations stating that the plant causes severe air and water pollution and contaminates the soil.
So far, there have only been temporary shutdowns and the plant has continued with its operations.
This year, fresh protests started in February when the company commenced works on its second unit amid opposition from the local people.
Section 144 of the CrPC (Criminal Procedure Code which lists out the procedure for administration of law in India), which prevents unlawful assembly of people in an area, has been imposed in and around the Sterlite unit.