Latest news with #anti-Sterlite
New Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
MDMK told by cops to change title for Vaiko's meeting on Sterlite stir
THOOTHUKUDI: Thoothukudi police directed the MDMK to change the title of its public meeting by party founder and general secretary Vaiko on Saturday from 'Sterlite eviction' (Sterlite Veliyetram) to 'Sterlite agitation history' (Sterlite Poratta Varalaru) allegedly due to objection from pro-Sterlite supporters. Vaiko began a state-wide tour from Thoothukudi on Saturday and will address eight public meets at various places in TN till August 20. The party installed banners in Thoothukudi city about a public meeting titled 'Sterlite eviction' on Saturday night. At the eleventh hour, the party renamed the meeting. 'Over eight pro-Sterlite associations lodged petitions with Tirunelveli range DIG urging him not to allow use the term 'Sterlite eviction'. So the police pressured us to rename the meeting,' said a senior party leader who arranged the meet. MDMK district secretary RS Ramesh told TNIE that despite talks, the ADSP did not allow the title. 'We were forced to change the title by the police,' he said. Anti-Sterlite people federation leader and advocate Hariragavan said Vaiko, who staged protests against the copper smelter for more than 25 years and is part of the DMK alliance, has been denied permission to speak on the topic, 'Sterlite eviction'. Further, he alleged that pro-Sterlite supporters are being permitted to stage meetings and besiege collectorate to demand reopening of the plant and questioned if the DMK is now standing by Sterlite or with those opposing it. A senior police officer said they told MDMK functionaries to change the title only to draw a balance between anti-Sterlite and pro-Sterlite protesters. 'Pro-Sterlite supporters will be dealt the same way to prevent build-up of tension. No leniency will be shown to them,' he said.
Hans India
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
TN Minister hits back at EPS over criticism of CM Stalin's hospital duties
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Industries Minister T.R.B. Rajaa, on Wednesday, countered the remarks made by the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) regarding Chief Minister M.K. Stalin discharging his duties from the hospital. Rajaa said that Chief Minister Stalin's hands-on style of leadership could only surprise someone like Palaniswami, who had "never effectively engaged with the people during any crisis" when he was the Chief Minister. In a statement, the Minister said CM Stalin ensured there was no disruption in governance while being hospitalised. "He (CM Stalin) summoned officials, reviewed the state government's functioning, monitored the progress of the Ungaludan Stalin scheme, sought feedback from district collectors on their field visits, prepared the memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister during his visit to Tamil Nadu, and even interacted directly with the public," Rajaa said. Drawing a sharp comparison between Stalin and Palaniswami, the Minister criticised Palaniswami's handling of the 2018 anti-Sterlite protests in Thoothukudi. "This is the same person under whose watch police firing claimed the lives of 13 innocent people. He later said, 'I just saw it on TV; only then I got to know.' To such a person, Chief Minister Stalin's hands-on approach will naturally be surprising," Rajaa said. The Industries Minister also hit out at Palaniswami for "theatrics," drawing parallels with how former AIADMK leaders allegedly released dramatic narratives about former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's hospitalisation. "People who once wrote melodramatic stories like, 'Amma ate idli, played with nurses, watched TV, ate khichdi, gave gifts to nurses, and gave intellectual advice to doctors,' should stop their low-level theatrics," Rajaa said. Responding to Palaniswami's criticism on the recent electricity tariff hike, the Minister reminded that it was Palaniswami who signed the Centre's Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) power scheme agreement after Jayalalithaa's death. "She (J. Jayalalithaa) had refused to join the scheme. EPS betrayed Tamil Nadu by signing the agreement. Even the remotest villages know this fact. Now he sheds crocodile tears about electricity tariffs," Rajaa said. He also asked Palaniswami's silence on the sharp rise in LPG cylinder prices under the Union government. "The price of a domestic LPG cylinder was Rs 414 in 2014; it is now Rs 868.50. Is the Leader of the Opposition unaware of this or is he, as usual, pretending?" Rajaa asked.
New Indian Express
22-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Sterlite Copper supporters want a ‘green restart'
THOOTHUKUDI: Over 1,000 people laid siege to the collectorate on Monday, demanding a "green restart" of the defunct Sterlite Copper smelter in Thoothukudi. The protesters cited unemployment and claimed that the green restart -- a proposal recommended by Vedanta's expert panel -- would address pollution issues, which was one of the major concerns. Many police personnel were deployed for bandobust duty, and they set up barricades in front of the collectorate to prevent the huge crowd from entering the premises. People from villages surrounding the SIPCOT complex, Tsunami colony, and various associations took part. Roja Raja, claiming to be a member of a conch divers' association, said he was a part of the anti-Sterlite agitation that led to the closure of the plant in 2018, but he now wants the plant be reopened. He said the plant authorities, who had been distributing welfare assistance, have promised to provide propellers for the boats at a subsidised cost. Selvi, another protester, said that many of the previous workers of the plant still could not land a good job. The police permitted 10 protesters to meet collector K Elambahavath and represent their demand.
The Hindu
21-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Thousands throng Thoothukudi Collectorate demanding reopening of Sterlite Copper plant
Thousands of people gathered in front of the Thoothukudi Collectorate arch gate on Monday, calling for the reopening of Sterlite Copper plant, which was shut down by the Tamil Nadu government in May 2018. The Sterlite Copper smelter in Thoothukudi has remained closed for the past seven years following police firing on 12 people during the anti-Sterlite protest in May 2018. Since then, residents of neighbouring villages and several organisations are continuously submitting petitions at the Cllectorate, urging the government to reopen the plant. In line with the efforts, thousands of people from nearby villages including Tsunami Nagar, Saminatham, Pandarampatti and Sankaraperi, and representatives from various organisations including women self-help Ggoups, lorry owners associations, auto rickshaw drivers and contract workers union began assembling outside the collectorate from at 8 a.m. to submit their petitions. The petitioners highlighted the proposal for Green Copper production at the smelter. They said they were encouraged by media reports about a scientific expert panel's recommendation to restart the plant in an environmentally sustainable manner. They urged the Tamil Nadu government to accept the recommendations and take necessary actions to reopen the plant. A petition submitted by Tsunami Nagar residents pointed out that around 150 individuals from their area were working in the plant. However, after its closure, they were forced to seek jobs elsewhere and struggled to support their families and provide proper education to their children. The residents urged the government to issue a special order, allowing the plant to reopen. 'To protect people's livelihood and provide employment, the Sterile plant must be reopened. We will vote only for the party that supports reopening the satellite,' were the slogans raised by the petitioners. Due to the large crowd, the Thoothukudi District police personnel were deployed. The public was stopped outside the Collectorate premises and only 10 people were allowed inside to meet the Collector and submit the petitions.
The Hindu
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Fishermen stage demonstration at Enayam against hydrocarbon project
Fishermen associations on Saturday staged a demonstration in Enayam, opposing the proposed deep sea hydrocarbon project off the Kanniyakumari coast. In a show of solidarity with the fishermen, Killiyoor MLA S. Rajesh Kumar and Volavancode MLA Tharahai Cuthbert took part in the demonstration and addressed the gathering. The MLA said the three sites in Kanniyakumari district, which included Wadge bank, an area rich in fishery resources, had been selected for the proposed deep sea oil and natural gas extraction project. The exploration at Wadge bank, which spans around 10,000 off the Kanniyakumari coast, would not only endanger the livelihood of fishermen but also severely impact the marine environment. Although a DPR had not yet been prepared, bids had been invited for the project. Stressing the urgency of the issue, he called for continued protests until the project was completely revoked. Referring to the police firing at anti-Sterlite protesters, he said, 'If a similar situation arises here, I am ready to stand at the front and face the bullets.' Members of the Coastal Peace Development Committee and various other associations took part in the demonstrations, highlighting the serious consequences in implementing the deep sea hydrocarbon project in the region.
