Vaiko urges CM Stalin to reject Sterlite Copper revival; NASSCOM, Cognizant delegations meet

MDMK general secretary Vaiko met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at the Secretariat in Chennai on Wednesday and submitted a detailed memorandum urging the government to reject any proposal for reviving the Sterlite Copper plant in Thoothukudi district.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Vaiko stated, “I have presented a detailed memorandum to the Chief Minister seeking the rejection of any proposal, permission, licence, or approval sought by Vedanta Limited / Sterlite Copper for establishing or reviving a copper smelting plant anywhere in Tamil Nadu, particularly in Thoothukudi district.”

The memorandum comes against the backdrop of a long-standing controversy over the plant. In May 2018, massive protests erupted in Thoothukudi against the expansion of the Sterlite Copper smelter, owned by Vedanta. The demonstrations turned violent, leading to police firing that resulted in the deaths of 13 people. Subsequently, the Tamil Nadu government ordered the permanent closure of the plant on environmental and public health grounds, a decision that Vedanta has been legally challenging ever since.

Vaiko’s submission reiterates the MDMK’s consistent opposition to the resumption of operations, citing concerns over environmental degradation and the well-being of local communities. The party has been part of larger coalitions that have protested against the plant in the past.

Beyond the memorandum, Vaiko also extended an invitation to Chief Minister Stalin for the release of a six-volume book chronicling his 30 years in Parliament. The event is scheduled for August 4 in New Delhi.

When asked about the possibility of the MDMK joining the TVK alliance ahead of upcoming elections, Vaiko remained non-committal, saying that only the party’s general council would take a decision on such matters. This leaves room for speculation, but no immediate alignment was confirmed.

In separate engagements, two high-profile delegations from the technology sector also called on Chief Minister Stalin. A team from the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM), led by its president Rajesh Nambiar, included vice-president Srikant Srinivasan, director Udaya Shankar, and South Regional Director Bhaskar Kumar Varma. Their discussions are believed to have focused on policy support for the IT industry in Tamil Nadu, though no official statement was released.

Another delegation from Cognizant Technology Solutions, comprising Chairman and Managing Director Rajesh Varrier, Board Member for India and General Counsel T. Narayanan, Head of Corporate Affairs for India Gaurav Hazra, Tamil Nadu Head Archana Ramkumar, and Head of Government Affairs for the State K. Purushothaman, also met the Chief Minister. The agenda likely included investment opportunities and collaboration on digital infrastructure, but specific details were not disclosed.

These meetings underscore the Tamil Nadu government’s ongoing engagement with both political and industrial stakeholders, balancing environmental concerns with economic development aspirations.