Actor Vishal, who is the president of the Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC) and the secretary of the South Indian Artistes Association, has condemned the brutal killing of those demanding the closure of the hazardous Sterlite Copper plant in Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) by the Tamil Nadu police department.
It may be recalled that over 10 people were killed on Tuesday after police opened fire on protestors demanding the closure of the hazardous chemical plant in Thoothukudi.
The Tamil Nadu government and its police department have since come under severe criticism from various quarters for the violent measure, which many feel was needless and avoidable.
Vishal said, "I strongly condemn the beastly manner in which people protesting against the Sterlite corporation have been brutally killed. My deepest condolences to the families of those killed. Protests are held for a social cause. They are not for a personal or individual cause. If 50,000 people have joined together and are protesting then it is certainly for a public cause [sic]."
"It is time that the honourable prime minister breaks his silence on this issue. Protests are a part of democracy. Why can't people involve themselves in it? The government is for the people. Not for anybody else. People will have to carefully think about 2019," he said.
Not just Vishal, several other actors, directors, music directors and producers too have lashed out at the governments at the Centre and the state for the killings.