Edappadi Palaniswami, General Secretary of the AIADMK, has expressed his outrage over the recent arrest of Samsung employees in the middle of the night at the company’s facility in Chengalpattu district.
The workers had been protesting for various demands, seeking better working conditions and addressing grievances related to their employment.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Palaniswami highlighted the ongoing labor dispute at the Samsung facility in Chengalpattu, where employees have been engaged in protests amidst ongoing negotiations between the labor union, the company, and government representatives. Reports suggest that despite news of an agreement being reached during discussions, the workers completely rejected the terms and continued their demonstrations.
The situation escalated when police allegedly boarded buses to check for Samsung workers, leading to the midnight arrests of several employees at their homes. This has raised significant concerns regarding law and order in Tamil Nadu.
Palaniswami criticized the state government for its lack of initiative in apprehending actual offenders while clamping down on workers fighting for their legitimate rights. He condemned the DMK government for resorting to repression instead of resolving the situation through dialogue.
He further challenged Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, questioning the sincerity behind his public proclamations of solidarity with workers, particularly during Labor Day events when he dons a red shirt. Palaniswami urged the government to immediately release the arrested workers and to respect their sentiments by facilitating proper negotiations to address their issues.