Insta
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisamy. (ARUN SANKAR/AFP/Getty Images)
In a debate in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister E Palaniswamy came out once again in defence of continuing police action against 'anti-social' elements in Tuticorin. 13 people were killed and over 50 injured in police firing and lathi charge during a day-long riot in the port city. The violence was carried out by a section of protesters who were seeking the shutdown of a controversial copper plant (run by Sterlite Copper) which they alleged was causing immense harm to the inhabitants of the town.
Opposition leader and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) working president MK Stalin had raised the issue of continuing police action and house to house searches in the affected town of Tuticorin. Stalin also suggested withdrawing the cases registered against protesters.
Rejecting Stalin's charge that the government was cracking down on genuine, democratic protest, Palaniswamy said: "I would like to clarify that we are calling only such elements (who indulged in violence) as anti-socials and not the general public"
Referring to how 'anti-social' elements had infiltrated the protests, he said the government had shown pictures and videos of violence where policemen were being attacked, petrol bombs being used to set fire on vehicles and so on.
"They were attacking cars with petrol bombs. They were attacking with wooden logs. They were destroying public property. Are they the general public who took part in protests? There were miscreants and anti-social elements", he quipped.
Claiming that Tamil Nadu probably saw the highest number of protests among all the states in the country, the CM said his own party too had been part of many agitations and protests in the past.
"Did we take wooden logs or petrol bombs then?", he asked.-
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.
Latest