India is witnessing one of its worst public health crisis in recent history. As of today, it has experienced its highest-ever surge of COVID cases, with 3.46 lakh cases recorded in just 24 hours across the country This issue has been exacerbated by the paucity of oxygen in critical hotspots, starving patients of life-saving options and severely reducing chances of survival.

While the government is firing on all cylinders in its search for oxygen stocks and production plants to cope with the rising demand, the Supreme Court on Thursday also took suo moto cognizance of the issue as well. On Friday, it urgently accepted for urgent hearing the offer from Vedanta to produce and supply 1000 tons of medical oxygen per day from its sealed Sterlite Copper plant in Thoothukudi which would be immensely helpful in meeting the current and future oxygen needs.

However, hours before the Supreme Court was to hear the matter, the Thoothukudi Collector hurriedly organized a public hearing in Thoothukudi to gauge public opinions on the offer of support from Vedanta.

Not a single actual representative from the community was featured in the original list of invitees to the hearing. Instead, the list included exclusively anti-Sterlite protestors and members of political fronts, all of whom had featured in agitations against the plant in the past. Some of them were known members of left-leaning organizations.

Shortly after the Supreme Court signaled its intent to hear Vedanta’s proposal, local activist Fathima Babu said to media persons “If the plant is allowed to reopen, we will again have a massive and violent protest. There is no shortage of oxygen and no need for Sterlite.”

On top of this, VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan instigated in a tweet that even if a thousand people die, they won’t allow the reopening of Sterlite.

Modi Govt must stop sidelining people's sentiments, & abandon efforts to reopen Sterlite in the guise of oxygen manufacturing. "Even if 1000 of us die, we won't let Sterlite open" – let this battle cry of the working people fall on the deaf ears of the ruling class #BanSterlite

— Thol. Thirumavalavan (@thirumaofficial) April 23, 2021

As is to be expected, the ‘public meeting’ rapidly devolved into a public spectacle as the anti-Sterlite protestors resorted to sloganeering and arguments with the police and district authorities.

“The few community members who were brave enough to recognize the criticality of oxygen crisis and supported resumption of the oxygen plant were heckled by the protestors even before they could voice their opinion. Once the protestors started to pelt stones, the police tried to control the situation by moving the attendees supporting the oxygen plant to a safe location.” one of the persons who was present at the meeting told The Commune.

“There was also not a single current panchayat representative, MP or MLA invited to the meeting, nor were any medical or public experts invited. Rather than even featuring elected representatives to participate in a so-called ‘public’ hearing, the administration indulged in a sham exercise for the sole purpose of painting a convenient narrative of public anger.” he further added.

Oxygen availability has become a pressing issue across states now. It will decide how India will cope with the second wave of the virus and is turning out to be critical for the survival of COVID patients. Recognizing this need, countries have rallied to offer help to India in some form or other. Germany has agreed to airlift 23 oxygen plants to India, while an NGO in Pakistan has offered to send 50 ambulances and support personnel to India immediately. Countries are opening up their borders and coffers to ensure that any possible help is provided urgently.

“At a time when the entire nation and global community is joining hands to battle the crisis, why is Tamil Nadu not stepping up? By indulging in utterly petty political games at a time when the nation is struggling, the Tamil Nadu government is simply risking the lives of India citizens and losing any moral right for aid for its own needs.” said the person who wised to remain unidentified.

It is abominable to continue citing law and order issues as a reason for not running a 1000 ton per day oxygen plant at this critical time. What has the State government then been doing for the past three years when the plant has remained closed? Why has it failed to identify and tackle these rogue activists and NGOs with vested interests? Even during the Thoothukudi protests in 2018, it was the heavy handed response of the administration that led to the tragic deaths of protestors, rather than the operations of the company. Now once again, the administration is failing miserably to reign in lumpen elements who are holding lives and livelihoods hostage. It is now simply seeking to repeat history by absolving itself of all responsibility and passing the buck onto a private corporation. By enabling and giving a platform to mischievous elements at this time rather than assuring the Centre of all support, the Tamil Nadu government is no less culpable than the so-called activists in unleashing terror in the community.

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