CHENNAI: CPI on Tuesday strongly condemned the arrest of over 1,000 Tasmac employees and union leaders, including party state secretary R Mutharasan, when they attempted to take a rally to the Secretariat demanding permanent employment, fair wages, and pensions.

CPI claimed that police resorted to house arrests to prevent many of them from participating in the demonstrations.

In a statement, the CPI executive committee said that the police crackdown led to the arrest of prominent union leaders, including AITUC national secretary TM Moorthy, Tamil Nadu Tasmac Employees Union general secretary T Dhanasekaran, VCK Workers’ Front general secretary I Muthupandi, Tasmac Employees Union president AI Balusamy, Tasmac Salesmen and Assistant Salesmen Union general secretary Mariappan, and All India Forward Bloc Workers’ Union state deputy secretary Mayandi.

CPI said it strongly condemns the police action, calling it an attack on democratic rights. The party has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all arrested workers and leaders.

CPI has reiterated its call for negotiations to resolve the key demands of Tasmac employees, including permanent employment, time-bound salary increments, and pension benefits. “Suppressing protests instead of addressing grievances wrong,” CPI said.