DMK president M.K. Stalin and AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami criticised the authorities after nurses were detained during a protest in Chennai. The nurses are seeking permanent jobs, job security and equal pay.
Stalin said the TVK government had gone back on promises to support the nurses. He said protesters were detained overnight on October 5 as they sought job security and equal pay. He also cited a lawyer’s allegation that several nurses’ representatives were invited for talks and then arrested.
The demonstration was held near Rajaratnam Stadium in Chennai. India Today and DT Next reported that nurses were demanding permanent employment, equal pay for equal work, a monthly salary of 45,000 rupees and payment of pending incentives. Local reports also said police detained hunger strikers after the authorised protest period ended.
Palaniswami called the police action cruel and urged the government to release those detained without filing cases against them. Stalin referred to reports that power at the protest site was cut and that demonstrators continued using mobile phone lights. These claims and characterisations came from opposition politicians.
The source report did not include a response from the Tamil Nadu government or police. Independent confirmation of the talks and the police action is needed to assess the competing claims.