Stalin, Palaniswami condemn govt over arrest of protesting nurses

Chennai: DMK president M K Stalin and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday condemned the state government for allegedly ordering the arrest of protesting nurses overnight. More than 2,000 nurses from across Tamil Nadu had gathered in Egmore on Monday demanding permanent jobs and parity in wages.

Tensions escalated in the evening when police attempted to disperse protesters who blocked roads, leading to mild arguments and scuffles that extended the protest past 10 PM. In a statement posted on a social media platform, Stalin questioned, “How the ruling party had the heart to ruthlessly arrest protesting nurses after tossing aside its eye-wash promises and betraying their trust.”

He alleged that after calling representatives of the protesting nurses for talks, the legal advisor of their association was arrested, followed by the nurses at the protest site. AIADMK chief Palaniswami also criticised the government’s stance, stating that arresting protesting nurses overnight by disconnecting power supplies and blocking mobile phone lights at the protest site reflects an absolute peak of “administrative inefficiency and tyranny”.

He questioned what prevented the state health minister from addressing the grievances of nurses, which come under his own department. Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Intermediary Health Workers Association claimed that following an assurance from the Health department, the nurses have temporarily suspended their protest until November 3. “The government must fulfil their demands and ensure that the nurses are not forced to launch another protest,” it said.

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The Hans India