Chennai, Jan 20 (Reporter) Actor-politician and the nascent Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) Founder Vijay on Monday met the villagers opposing the construction of Parandur greenfield airport and promises to stand by them in their struggle, but said he was not against development. The villagers in and around Parandur were protesting for the last 900 days opposing the airport. This is the first public outreach event of Mr Vijay after his party's maiden political conference a couple of months back. Addressing the villagers from his campaign van at Melpodavur village near Ekanapuram in the neighbouring Kancheepuram district, about 70 km from Chennai, he had a dig at the ruling DMK and accused it of cheating the people on the issue. He also demanded that the Parandur airport project should be given up. He also wanted both the Union and State governments to reassess its viability and feasibility. The Kollywood icon alleged that the present rulers have a vested interest in carrying out the project despite stiff opposition from the locals as it was somehow beneficial to them. Stating that people will not remain mute spectators as there should not be destruction in the name of development,” he clarified that he was not against development and industrialisation should be spread evenly across the state, a point that was mentioned in a resolution adopted at the TVK's first conference. He said he was only against the project coming here at Parandur and not against a new airport per se. “We are for development which does not harm the environment and which takes into account the threats of climate change and global warming. Recalling the floods faced by Chennai, he claimed that by destroying 13 water bodies in Parandur, Chennai will become perennially susceptible to floods. Alleging that the DMK was adopting double standards on the proposed Tungsten Mining project at Madurai and on Parandur airport issue, Vijay while wholeheartedly welcomed the resolution adopted in the State Assembly on Tungsten mining where also locals are protesting against the project, why it was having different stand on Parandur airport. The greenfield project, proposed at a cost of Rs 29,144 crore, will be constructed in 2,172.73 hectares...////...