Activists hold protest outside Vedanta AGM over Niyamgiri

Activists from a campaigning organisation protested at the venue of annual general meeting of British mining giant Vedanta against its plans to drill bauxite in Odisha's Niyamgiri hills.

'Foil Vedanta', an independent campaigning organisation and several other organisations held a demonstration at the AGM of the British mining giant at the Marriott Hotel at Grosvenor square here yesterday.

A parallel demonstration was also held in Johannesburg, a spokesperson of 'Foil Vedanta' said.

Meanwhile, a majority of tribal village meetings in Odisha's Niyamgiri hills, has been given legal power by the Supreme Court which ruled that all communities affected by the project must be consulted following which they have unanimously voted against it.

Protesters were chanting and singing throughout the two- hour protest which could be heard inside the AGM, the spokesperson added.