Anbumani, Vijay slam DMK government over detention of protesting conservancy workers in Chennai

Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader Anbumani Ramadoss, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay, and BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan criticised the DMK government over the detention of protesting conservancy workers of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC).

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In a post on X, Dr. Anbumani said their detention is shocking, and that oppressing those who fight for their rights is “condemnable and inexcusable.” “With the protest going on for 12 days, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin should have held talks with the protesters and resolved the issue. However, the Chief Minister does not have enough time to even watch movies. Does Mr. Stalin, who is an advocate for social justice, think meeting sanitation workers is beneath him,” he asked.

“Unleashing force on poor people is not courage, it is cowardice. Fulfilling their demands is courage. It is certain that the day people remove the DMK from power is not far away,” Dr. Anbumani said.

In a separate post on X, Mr. Vijay condemned the arrest and termed the DMK regime “fascist”. “News has emerged that when these women sanitation workers were dragged away like bundles and arrested, they not only fainted but also sustained injuries. Watching this midnight arrest makes it clear that violence has been unleashed on women, which is intolerable to anyone with a conscience,” he said.

Immediate medical help and treatment must be provided to the injured, along with all necessary measures to protect their health, Mr. Vijay said. The arrested sanitation workers are being detained at different locations, where they are unable to contact their families or receive any assistance, he said.

“Are these sanitation workers enemies of the State that they must be kept away from even speaking to their own families? Does the ruling government even have a shred of conscience,” Mr. Vijay asked. “From this cruel act, it is evident whether the regime in Tamil Nadu is democratic or authoritarian,” he said.

“The sanitation workers have been protesting only to demand the fulfillment of the promises you made when you were in the Opposition. Why have you still not fulfilled those promises? If you cannot keep such promises, why do you make them in the first place,” Mr. Vijay further asked. He sought the immediate release of the detained sanitation workers, and said they must be given an alternative space to continue their protest and present their demands.

In a post on X, BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan alleged that the issue points to “a total mismanagement by the DMK government.” Chief Minister M.K. Stalin should have met them and spoken to them positively, and the evacuation should have been done more warmly, she said.

“More painful to know the Chief Minister, instead of meeting the protesting workers, was watching a movie. Very unfortunate situation in Tamil Nadu,” Ms. Soundararajan said.

DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth also strongly condemned the overnight detention of the sanitation workers. In a statement, she said Mr. Stalin and the Ministers of the departments concerned should immediately hold talks with the protesting workers and fulfil their demands.