TN This Week: Police Action Against AIDWA Protest, Coimbatore MSME Strike Against Power Tariff Hike

The state witnessed protests from different sections, including revenue officers of the state government, the MSME sector in Coimbatore, sanitation, transport and rubber plantation workers. The demands include filling vacancies and ensuring minimum wage and permanent jobs.

Members of the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) were detained at homes and railway stations across the state to prevent them from participating in the DGP Office march on November 25 seeking justice for Srimathi, a girl student who died in her school in Kallakurichi district.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suspended Suriya Siva, its OBC wing leader, after abusive audio of the conversation with minority wing president Daisy Saran went viral. Daisy was threatened with physical harm by Suriya in the audio that was circulated on social media.

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) stayed the suspension handed over by the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) to the party legislator Ruby R Manoharan. The Assembly member was suspended after an altercation broke out between two groups in the TNCC headquarters.

Two workers were injured in an accident in the Aruvankadu factory in Nilgiris. This is the second accident in a week, raising concerns over the safety of the workers.

NewsClick brings a round-up of the happenings in Tamil Nadu this week.

MSME OBSERVE FAST IN COIMBATORE

Condemning the hike in the peak hour and fixed charges, the entrepreneurs owning the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) held a one-day fast in Coimbatore on November 25. Around 500 MSMEs downed their shutters in protest and participated in the strike.

Recently the state government announced an increase in the power tariff, affecting both industries and domestic consumers. The Federation of Coimbatore Industrial Association (FOCIA), a coordinating body of 18 associations, had called for the protest.

AIDWA ACTIVISTS ARRESTED

Tamil Nadu police detained hundreds of AIDWA activists who marched to the DGP office in Chennai. The AIADWA had called for the march against the delay in an inquiry on the death of Srimathi, a school student in Kallakurichi. The reason for the death remains a mystery even now.

E Mohana, secretary of the Tiruvallur district committee, was detained from her house even as the state leaders were detained on the road while travelling in an auto to the DGP office. Despite several restrictive measures, hundreds of activists, including the family members of Srimathi, reached the site and were detained.

The AIDWA has been demanding speedy enquiry on the death of Srimathi, following which a riot was organised in the school. The BJP claimed conversion was the reason for the death, which has been proved wrong.

TRANSPORT WORKERS PROTEST

The serving and retired workers of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) held protests across the state against the delay in distributing the pension benefits and revising the dearness allowance (DA). The workers who have retired since 2020 have yet to receive retirement benefits.

The workers have accused the state government of utilising funds they contributed towards provident funds and cooperative societies. While the government employees have been provided revised DA, around 86,000 retirees of the corporation are denied the facility.

BJP SUSPENDS OBC WING LEADER

The BJP, after facing a backlash in social media over the abusive behaviour of the general secretary of the OBC wing, Suriya Siva, suspended him for six months from the appointed posts. His conversation with the president of the minority wing, Daisy, went viral in which he was hurling abuses and threatening her.

Earlier, the party suspended Gayathri Raghuram, an actress and leader of the Tamil development wing, for six months, for making public statements against Surya's threat to Daisy.

AICC STAYS LEGISLATOR'S SUSPENSION

The AICC withheld the suspension of the party legislator, R Manoharan, handed over by the TNCC leadership. The incharge of the state, Dinesh Gundu Rao, stayed the entire enquiry process and suspension decided by the disciplinary committee of the TNCC.

TNCC on November 25 suspended the party legislator, who is also the party's treasurer, after a scuffle in the Satyamurthy Bhavan, the party's state headquarters.

JBM WORKERS ON SIT-IN PROTEST

The JBM Auto Systems Limited workers are on a sit-in strike demanding the withdrawal of dismissal, suspension and transfer of 49 workers since February 2021. The management has refused to suspend the actions despite the labour court and the state government ruling favour the workers. Read More

JK TYRES WORKERS WIN RIGHTS

The workers of JK Tyres in Chennai withdrew their strike after the management agreed to revoke the suspension of three union leaders and enhance the festival bonus. Read More

PLANTATION WORKERS STRIKE CONTINUES

The strike of the rubber plantation workers in Tamil Nadu entered day 19 on demands to implement a wage hike of Rs 40/day for the settlement period of December 2019- November 2022. The workers have also opposed the move of the Arasu Rubber Corporation (ARC) to increase the settlement period from 3 years to 5 years. Read More

PROTEST AGAINST GO 152

The workers of the urban local bodies in the state held statewide protests against the GO 152. The government intends to reduce the number of workers in all the corporations except Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). The workers allege that the workforce will be reduced to around 10% of the actual strength resulting in job loss and the functioning of the local bodies.

NOON MEAL WORKERS PROTEST IN KRISHNAGIRI

The Tamil Nadu Nutritious Meal Employees' Association held a protest in Krishnagiri district demanding the implementation of the breakfast scheme for school children through the noon meal workers. The breakfast scheme for elementary school students is implemented through self-help groups.

SECOND ACCIDENT IN A WEEK

An accident in the Cordite Factory, Aruvancadu injured two sepoys, the second accident within one week. The sepoys of the defence security corps (DSC) were injured when welding pipes outside the carbide factory.

10 SRILANKAN REFUGEES ARRIVE

Ten more refugees from Sri Lanka arrived in Rameshwaram island seeking asylum. The Tamil Nadu Coastal Security Group handed over the refugees to the camp after holding an enquiry.