New Delhi [India], May 23 (NT): Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy on Wednesday took a dig at former finance minister and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Sterlite protest incident and asserted he should speak up on the issue as he was a paid director in the copper mining industry for several years.

AS per the reports of ANI On Tuesday, 11 people were killed and more than 65 other wounded during protests against the construction of a new copper smelter by the Sterlite copper mining industry in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi.

Swamy told ANI that P Chidambaram should answer on Sterlite protest incident as he was a paid director in the company for many years mentioning all documents are available.

Swamy added that he should now speak up on behalf of Sterlite as the locals are up in arms against the construction of the copper plant.

Protestors claimed that the plant would pollute groundwater in the area, and causing serious environmental vulnerability.

The demonstration turned violent after protestors were not permitted to march up to the plant, which then commenced to pelt stones and oust police vehicles.

Police officials also resorted to lathi-charge and tear gas to go away the crowd to hold the situation.