CPI today demanded the resignation of Chief Minister K Palaniswami, owning moral responsibility for the police firing on protesters in Tuticorin that has claimed 13 lives and left scores injured.
The Left party charged the state government with "state sponsored killing" of the protesters and "protecting Sterlite's interests".
"The Chief Minister should own up moral responsibility for the deaths and step down. Sterlite should also go," CPI National Secretary D Raja said in a statement.
Alleging that the company was known for looting natural resources and polluting the environment,he said since it could not set up the plant in other states, including Goa, "it established the plant in Tamil Nadu with state support."