Rajnikanth said the protest and subsequent violence in Tuticorin was an intelligence failure. (Photo: ANI)

Actor-turned-politician Rajnikanth on Wednesday said authorities of Sterlite Copper will not be humans if they decide to challenge the Tamil Nadu government's order to shutdown its copper plant in Tuticorin.

Speaking to reporters, Rajnikanth said the company should refrain from challenging the order. "There is nothing greater than the will of the people. If Sterlite Copper approaches court even after this [protests in Tuticorin], they are not human beings," he said.

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I don't want to comment more on it, but the Govt needs to be careful as the people are watching, it was a huge mistake and a big lesson. I announce Rs 2 lakhs each for the kin of victims who died in the protest: #Rajinikanth in #Thoothukkudi. #SterliteProtest pic.twitter.com/rxM0mvuxLI ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2018





The actor added that the Tamil Nadu government completely mishandled the situation in Tuticorin where 13 people were shot dead by the police last week after protests turned violent.

The superstar was in Tuticorin to meet the injured at a local hospital and family members of the deceased.

Taking a dig at the state government, Rajnikanth said the AIADMK government has "failed" to keep anti-social elements at bay. He added that the protests and subsequent violence was due to intelligence failure on part of the agencies concerned.

"Jayalalithaa had an iron grip on the state administration. The present government has completely mishandled the situation on the ground," he said, adding that the people of Tuticorin are still fearful and worried about the future.

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"Common people did not participate in the violence. Some anti-social elements instigated violence," he said.

He reached the hospital around 11:30 am and said the visit was a "goodwill gesture" to console the victims. The actor also handed over a solatium of Rs 2 lakh to the kin of the deceased and Rs10,000 to the injured.

He added that demands for Chief Minister E Palanisamy's resignation can't be a solution to the problem at hand. "His resignation can't be a solution," he said, adding that political parties should be cautious because the people are watching. "They will give a befitting reply at the opportune time," he said.