CHENNAI: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) general secretary for election campaign management Aadhav Arjuna on Thursday flayed the ruling DMK government over the continued protests by secondary grade and part-time teachers in Chennai, accusing the administration of apathy, authoritarianism and betrayal of electoral promises.
Referring to media reports, Aadhav Arjuna noted that secondary-grade teachers have been protesting for the seventh consecutive day in the city, even on New Year's Day, seeking justice for their long-pending demands. He questioned the moral legitimacy of a government that, he said, allowed teachers, particularly women, to be forced to protest on the streets, kneeling and enduring hardship, while the Chief Minister and ministers celebrated the New Year.
"When those who voted for this government, secondary grade teachers, part-time teachers, sanitation workers and other sections of employees, are struggling with unspeakable suffering, the ruling establishment appears to be watching as silent spectators," he alleged in a statement.
The TVK leader strongly condemned the police action against the agitating teachers, describing their arrests as unjustifiable and repressive. He said the prolonged agitation under the banner of equal pay for equal work reflected the government's failure to honour its own election commitments. "When will dawn break for intermediate and part-time teachers who were lured with promises during elections and are now being denied even their democratic right to protest?" he asked.
Accusing the DMK government of adopting an authoritarian approach, Aadhav demanded the immediate fulfilment of the legitimate demands of secondary-grade teachers, part-time teachers, and other government employees. He warned that a regime that forces citizens to fight daily for their fundamental rights would inevitably face public retribution. "The people will teach this government a fitting lesson," he added.