Stalin, DMK MLAs wear black clothes in TN assembly protesting Tuticorin massacre
Chennai, May 29 (IBNS): DMK lawmakers, including opposition leader MK Stalin, on Tuesday entered the Tamil Nadu assembly by wearing black clothes as a mark of protest against the killing of 13 people in Tuticorin during agitation over the Sterlite copper plant pollution issue, media reports said.
The first day of the assembly session, which began on Tuesday, was adjourned to show respect to the deceased in Tuticorin.
Prioritising Tamil Nadu people's demands after over a dozen deaths of protesters in police firing, the state government issued an order to close the plant permanently on Monday.
The government has also cancelled the land allotment for the second phase of expansion of the plant by Vedanta Group in the region.
Deputy Chief Minister O Paneerselvam has been quoted by The Times of India as saying, "Today, the main demand of the people is that the copper plant should be permanently closed. In keeping with their demand, it is shut now. I would like to make it clear that Sterlite plant will be permanently shut."
"The government will do its duty for permanently closing down the plant" he added.
The plant was closed by former CM J Jayalalithaa in 2013 but Vedanta Group had approached the National Green Tribunal and got orders to resume operations.
Thirteen people were killed in police firing during the protest which turned violent in the last week.
The violence during the protest left at least 100 people injured.
The violence erupted surrounding protests about the plant's expansion.
The Supreme Court on Monday is likely to hear the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed on Thursday regarding the death of protesters in the Tuticorin Sterlite Copper plant violence case, according to media reports.
The PIL, among other things has appealed for a court-monitored CBI probe into the death of protesters allegedly in police firing after violence erupted in Tuticorin surrounding the Sterlite Copper plant, media reported.
The Centre has also sought a report on the violence from the Tamil Nadu government, media reported.
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