Chennai, Oct 6:
DMK president M K Stalin has strongly condemned the TVK government over the arrest of nurses who were protesting in Chennai demanding permanent employment, job security and equal pay for equal work. He accused the government of going back on promises made to nurses before coming to power and described the action against the protesters as an “act of betrayal.”
In a statement on social media, Stalin alleged that nurses who had been conducting a peaceful protest over their livelihood demands were arrested by the police instead of being invited for talks. He questioned why the government could not sit down with the protesting nurses and discuss their demands, but chose to take police action against them.
Stalin said the government had supported similar protests when it was in the Opposition and had promised during the election campaign to make the nurses’ jobs permanent. However, after assuming office, the same government had resorted to police action when the nurses raised the issue again, he alleged.
He also alleged that representatives of the nurses’ association were arrested after being told that they would be taken for talks. He questioned Chief Minister Vijay over the government’s handling of the protest and asked what he and his ministers had to say about the arrests.
Referring to the protest, Stalin alleged that the power supply at the protest venue was cut and that the nurses continued their agitation using mobile phone torches before being forcibly arrested during the night. He questioned whether such action represented the “change” promised by the TVK government and whether it reflected its commitment to democracy.
More than 2,000 nurses from across Tamil Nadu had participated in the hunger strike near Rajarathinam Stadium in Chennai on Monday. They were seeking permanent employment, job security, settlement of pending dues and salary revision. The protesters said intermediate health workers were serving in 4,848 health and wellness centres across the State and were involved in maternal and child healthcare, family welfare and other services.
The protest was subsequently temporarily withdrawn after the Health Secretary assured the nurses’ association representatives that their demands would be considered. The associations decided to wait until November 3 for action on their demands, failing which they said they would decide on the next course of action.