A number of political parties and organisations working for human rights came together on Thursday to issue a joint written condemnation against the recent support lent by Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TNCCI) for the reopening of Sterlite Copper in Thoothukudi district.
The organisations demanded that the chamber repeal its support and said that they would gherao the TNCCI’s office if it failed to do so.
16 lives lost
Arguing that a total of 16 lives had been lost in the people’s movement against Sterlite Copper, the organisations said allowing the plant to function would be against natural and social justice.
“Tamil Nadu people’s expectation is that the chamber stands with the people to close down the plant,” the joint statement said.
The organisations further said that they had reliably learnt that many members of the chamber were not in support of the issuance of the statement in support of reopening the plant.
‘A deviation’
“The chamber deviating from its hitherto stand to extend support for the plant raises doubts,” it said.
The statement added that it appeared as if some senior office-bearers of the body acted on their own.
The organisations that issued the statement included Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Communist Party of India, Social Democratic Party of India, Adi Tamilar Katchi, People’s Union for Civil Liberties, Samam Kudimakkal Iyakkam, Society for Community Organisation Trust and a few other organisations.
