Sterlite firing: CPI(M) stages demonstration in Thoothukudi, urges action against officials

The CPI (M) staged a demonstration here on Thursday demanding action against government officials allegedly responsible for the Sterlite police firing.

Former State secretary and polit bureau member K. Balakrishnan participated as special invite and addressed the gathering.

Speaking to the media, Mr. Balakrishnan said the Justice Aruna Jagadeesan Commission, which has been constituted to inquire into the Thoothukudi Sterlite police firing had recommended action against the then Collector and other revenue department officials, as well as the police officials.

Adding that that no police personnel had even been placed under suspension during the AIADMK regime, he said that the subsequent DMK government had received the report and tabled it in the Assembly but had not taken action against any police personnel. He further alleged that the present TVK government has told the court that action taken against the officials had been withdrawn.

Mr. Balakrishnan said that the AIADMK, DMK and the present TVK government had refrained from taking action against the officials concerned despite the recommendations of a commission headed by a retired judge. He said the CPI(M) had staged a protest demanding action against the officials and would continue its legal battle.

“We are not part of any alliance. We are not part of the TVK alliance or the DMK alliance. At a time when we wanted to prevent President’s Rule from being imposed in Tamil Nadu, we extended support to the TVK government to avoid such a situation. Now we are not part of any alliance, we are contesting in the by-election independently,” he added.