AIADMK, DMK responsible for allowing Sterlite unit: MoS

Union Pon Radhakrishnan today accused the AIADMK and DMK of being responsible for allowing Sterlite to set up its copper unit here and said he had protested against it 20 years ago.

He had staged a four-day fast in 1998 when the initiatives were taken for starting the factory. But then the people did not support him and said they would get employment, the Minister of State said.

"It was DMK and AIADMK who are responsible for starting the sterlite company in Tuticorin. Now they are opposing," he told reporters here.

The minister's comments come amid ongoing protests by locals and others against the expansion plans of the factory and demands for its closure on grounds that it allegedly caused pollution.

Radhakrishnan, Minister of state for Finance and Shipping, also said various development works had been taken up in the Tuticorin Port at a cost of Rs.3,000 crore.