Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister Jayakumar on Thursday said that controversial Sterlite plant in Tuticorin has been permanently closed, and they don't care about the views of Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev and Spiritual guru Jaggi Vasudev who is also known as Sadhguru.
Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister Jayakumar on Thursday said that controversial Sterlite plant in Tuticorin is permanently closed, and they don't care about the views of Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev and Spiritual guru Jaggi Vasudev who is also known as Sadhguru.
Thirteen people were killed in the police firing on May 22 and 23 after protests for closure of the Vedanta group's Sterlite Copper plant in Tuticorin over pollution concerns turned violent.
The minister made the remarks when asked about Baba Ramdev and Sadhguru's tacit plea for reopening Sterlite plant. "We don't care about their views. We are firm. There won't be any reconsideration, Sterlite is permanently closed," Jayakumar said.
Earlier this week, Ramdev claimed that the anti-Sterlite protestors in Tuticorin were instigated by 'international conspirators'.
His statement, in support of Sterlite and Vedanta, came soon after he met Anil Agarwal, chairman of Vedanta Resources, in London.
Ramdev shared a picture with Anil Agarwal and his wife on Twitter and said, "I salute his contribution in the national building process by creating lacs of jobs and economic prosperity. International conspirators created ruckus at one of Vedanta’s plant in South of India through innocent local people. Industries are the temples of development for the nation. They should not be closed."
Whereas, speaking in defense of Sterlite Copper plant in Thoothukudi, Jaggi Vasudev, who runs the Isha Foundation said that lynching large businesses is economic suicide.
“Am not an expert on copper smelting but I know India has immense use for copper. If we don't produce our own, of course we will buy from China. Ecological violations can be addressed legally. Lynching large businesses is economic suicide.-Sg,” he tweeted.
However, in an interview to a news channel, he said, "I am not in support of Sterlite or any other industry or political party. Address environmental violations legally. Burning public property or closing down businesses is not in national interest. Do not politicise."
On Wednesday, Madras High Court dismissed a state government's plea challenging a lower court's order granting bail to 65 persons, arrested for their alleged roles in the violence during the anti-Sterlite protests last month.
Justice G R Swaminathan said there was no prima facie case against those who were facing criminal charges.
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