Tuticorin Protest : Opposition calls for statewide shutdown

The DMK led opposition parties led a bandh to condemn the Tuticorin Protest where 13 people lost their lives and to demand CM Palaniswami’s resignation on Friday.

Demonstrations were staged by DMK and its allies in several parts of the state and neighbouring Puducherry.

Criticizing the government, raising the slogans and asking for Palaniswami’s resignation, bandh was held in locations including Egmore and Saidapet.

Opposition workers and leaders protest in #Chennai's Egmore against #ThoothukudiPoliceFiring. DMK's Kanimozhi and VCK's Thirumavalavan among those detained by Police. #SterliteProtest pic.twitter.com/EDlohUKrgJ

— ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2018

Leaders who participated in the demonstrations were Former Chennai Mayor and DMK leader M Subramanian, party Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi, VCK chief Thirumavalavan, MMK leader M H Jawahirullah.

The Madras High court also asked TN government to restore the internet services in Tuticorin, which was suspended earlier this week. Madras High Court also asked why it was suspended in other districts. This was after the state government informed the court that the situation in the district is now normal.

Amid protests, Traffic was also interrupted in several locations in Chennai and security was tightened in all the districts of the state. No fresh violence was reported so far on Friday from Thoothukudi.

Meanwhile, in a BSE filing, Vedanta said that the state pollution control board has ordered the closure of its plant.
“The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) vide its order dated 23 May, 2018 ordered disconnection of electricity supply and closure of the company’s ‘Copper Smelter Plant 1 at Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu’ under provisions of Section 33A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Section 31A of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1971, with immediate effect,” it said.

“We would also like to inform that the plant was not operating since 27 March 2018”, it added.

With inputs from PTI

Picture credits: Zee News