THOOTHUKUDI
CPI (M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat on Monday asked why even a single first information report (FIR) had not been filed against police officers following the firing on anti-Sterlite protesters, in which 13 people died.
Speaking to media persons here after visiting the families of the victims, Ms. Karat demanded an independent inquiry into the firing under the purview of the Madras High Court. She also participated in a public meeting convened to condemn the police firing during the protests.
Although the district administration had earlier denied permission for the meeting, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court gave the go-ahead with a few caveats.
She accused the Narendra Modi government at the Centre of allowing expansion of Sterlite Copper plant, which had been embroiled in a number of cases for flouting environmental laws. “Vedanta is a generous donor to the BJP. This is a direct result of the Modi government’s ‘ease of doing business’ policy and crony capitalism,” she said, and alleged that the approval was given with disregard to the environmental laws.
Ms. Karat condemned the late-night arrests of protesters and alleged that false cases were being slapped on many of them. “Why is the National Security Act being used on the protesters?” she asked, adding: “What the government wants is to protect the company’s security.”
She said steps should be taken to ensure permanent closure of the plant. “When a notification is issued by the government for closure, it should mean closure,” she said. “There should be no loophole to allow the company to take advantage of it later,” she added.
The NDA and the UPA governments at the Centre and the AIADMK government in the State should be held responsible for the present problem, she said.
Ms. Karat also urged the government to remove copper slag from the plant. “During our visit, we found small mounds of copper slag there. If it rains, it will seep down and pollute groundwater. It is a cause for concern,” she said.
She said the CPI (M) would collect funds for the welfare of the victims of police firing.
Earlier, Ms. Karat submitted a representation to Collector Sandeep Nanduri and met Superintendent of Police Murali Rambha and Inspector General of Police (South Zone) Shanmuga Rajeswaran.
