DMK to attend Assembly session

Chennai, June 3 (IANS) DMK leader M.K. Stalin on Sunday said the party has decided to participate in the Tamil Nadu Assembly proceedings after reconsidering its decision to boycott the House.

In a statement here, Stalin said leaders of its allies urged the DMK to take part in the Assembly proceedings.

Stalin said that "people from different walks of life stressed us to attend the Assembly so that the voice of people is heard and they get sufficient protection".

Taking these things into consideration and after a detailed deliberation at the meeting of party officials on Saturday, it has been decided to attend and participate in the Assembly session, Stalin said.

On Tuesday, the DMK announced its decision to boycott the state Assembly sessions until the Tamil Nadu cabinet takes a policy decision to shut down the Sterlite Copper smelter plant in Thoothukudi belonging to the Vedanta group.

In a statement issued by the party, Whip R. Chakrapani said the Palaniswami government issued an order to close down the copper smelter plant without convening a cabinet meeting and taking a policy decision.

Chakrapani said this would enable the company to seek relief from the courts. He alleged that the Chief Minister was not sincere about shutting down the plant.

The DMK MLAs on Tuesday attended the Assembly wearing black shirts to condemn the May 22 police firing in Thoothukudi which claimed 13 lives.