Probe panel summons Rajinikanth

Actor Rajinikanth has been summoned by the one-member commission probing the Tuticorin violence for his remarks on the anti-Sterlite protesters. The committee, headed by retired high court judge Aruna Jagadeesan, had asked the Tamil actor to appear before the commission on February 25. On May 22, 2018, at least 13 people were killed and several others injured when Tamil Nadu police opened fire on protestors who took out a demonstration against the construction of a new smelter plant by Sterlite Copper plant owned by the Vedanta Limited in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu. After meeting those injured in the firing, Rajinikanth said the protest turned violent only after the “intrusion of anti-social elements.” He further added that if there is protest for everything then Tamil Nadu will turn into a graveyard. “Ordinary people did not torch the collector office and the housing quarters, the violence happened because of the intrusion of anti-social elements.” Later, when the actor was questioned on what basis he concluded that anti-social elements were responsible for the violence, he said “You are asking how I know that, I know that’s it," the actor had said.