The state government of Tamil Nadu in India has permanently closed the country’s largest copper plant, controlled by London-listed Vedanta Resources, after last week’s police killing of 13 people who were protesting against the smelter.
More than 200 people including campaign groups such as Foil Vedanta, Tamil People in UK, Tamil Solidarity, Periyar Ambedkar Study Circle, South Asia Solidarity Group, Parai Voice of Freedom, Tamil Sangam UK, UK Women's Network, Veera Tamilar Munnani, Socialist party held a two hour protest outside the Indian High Commission in London on Saturday 26 May from 3-5pm, asking for an inquiry by the UK government into alleged violations by Anil Agarwal, the London-based entrepreneur's Vedanta Resources.
The groups protested with traditional Tamil drums, and raised slogans to ask for the delisting of the company from London Stock Exchange. Sterlite was the first company that was set up by the British Indian billionaire in India before he launched Vedanta Resources on the London Stock Exchange in 2003. The company now has operations across India and Africa.
Agarwal, meanwhile, in an interview to Economic Times expressing sadness over the loss of lives in the protests said, “Vedanta as a responsible corporate citizen and on humanitarian grounds, we will extend all possible support to families of the deceased and severely injured.” He added that he was ready for the company to be looked into by an independent agency.
On Tuesday some people had protested outside Agarwal's house in London and then marched to India House, in Aldwych, where they had tried to approach the High Commissioner of India to UK.
People in front ofthe High Commission of India on Saturday held placards saying 'No corporate control of our land and life', 'No to Sterlite, No to Modi' 'Kick out Vedanta', 'Anil Agarwal blood on your hands','We demand independent investigation' and many wore. Some young protesters even woremasks with faces of Narendra Modi, Anil Agrawal and Tamil Nadu CM Palaniswamishouting slogans. Little shrines under trees lay with pictures of dead people, as candles were lit and flowers were laid.
Dr Revathi Rangaswamy from UK Women's Network, at the protest told Asian Voice, “We are gathered here to protest here against the state government and central government. The residents of Tuticorin have protested for last 30 years and nothing has happened. Whoever has been there in the state government, they have not done anything to address the concerns of the people. People in Tuticorin are thereby affected by cancer, breathing problems, asthma, infertility and now the protests have escalated to this level. The protests that happened on 26 May, people were shot without warnings. By the looks of it, we feel that it was planned by the state government, as snipers were present. People are saying whatever the official statements be, there are more than 30 people have died, and all of them belonged to a group who have been fighting against Sterlite for years.
“We want Mr Anil Agrawal to know that we are deeply distressed and angry. Lives are lost the cost of his factory. We agree that it is a profitable business, but do consider our pleas and have mercy.”
Vijay Surya from Tamil Sangam UK told the newspaper, “We want justice for the Tamil people who are killed in Tamil Nadu for a corporate company. The State Government and Central Government are protecting the company and killing the people. We want justice for our people, we want the state government to be dismissed and the Central government to listen to us. That's why we are gathered here.
“We would like to give our petition against the Vedanta company polluting our city and killing people to the High Commissioner of India to UK His Excellency Y K Sinha to be passed on to the Central Government in India.”
In the meantime Her Majesty's Opposition has been calling for the delisting of the “rogue” company from the stock exchange. Shadow chancellor John McDonnell in a statement said, “The news from Tamil Nadu that 13 people protesting against Vedanta have been killed is shocking and demands action.
“This is a major multinational company that for years has operated illegal mining concerns, trashing the environment and forcibly evicting local people. Campaigners and international NGOs like Amnesty International have accused Vedanta of a string of human rights and environmental abuses in India, Zambia and across the globe,” he added.
“After the massacre of the protesters this week, regulators must now take action. Vedanta must be immediately delisted from the London Stock Exchange, and prevent further reputation damage to London’s financial markets from this rogue corporation.”
