EPS slams DMK govt for denial of nod to march against tungsten mining project in Madurai

CHENNAI: AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami accused the Stalin government of double standards on the tungsten mining project, with the regime denying permission for a peaceful protest over the issue.

The Leader of the Opposition said that a peaceful march by the people to protest against the project in Arittapatti village, Madurai district, has been handled in a draconian way. This reflects how the government has stooped to a "state of emergency," he added.

Denying the fundamental right to protest democratically exposes DMK's fascist tendencies, the AIADMK leader said. Democratic rights from the public, opposition parties, and civil organizations are taken away by preventing them from expressing their dissent, he added. The current government has been using the police force to suppress the people's emotionally charged protests in pursuit of their rights, he said. This indicates the State is under emergency rule, Palaniswami said in a post on X.

Palaniswami further asserted that the resolution passed in the assembly opposing the establishment of the tungsten mine was mere window-dressing and that Stalin's government was, in fact, supporting the project. The people's protest today has proven that the DMK government is backing the tungsten project, as seen in the anger expressed by the public, Palaniswami said. "Without fearing the people's protest, the Stalin model government must grant permission for peaceful demonstrations," he stated.

Though the people approached the police department through appropriate channels to seek approval for a peaceful protest and demonstration, the government denied a nod, the AIADMK claimed. On the other hand, the ruling party is staging a political drama under the guise of protest (against the Governor) to divert attention from the Anna University sexual assault case, Palaniswami said.