No need for Communist agitations under TVK: TN Minister Anand

CHENNAI: Rural Development and Water Resources Minister N Anand said on Saturday that the State has eradicated the practice of paying bribes to secure government jobs and there would be no need for Communist parties to launch agitations hereafter.

He said the Communist parties had traditionally stood up for the poor and the toiling workers, but claimed that the present government would address their concerns without the need for agitations. "The Communist parties are known for their struggles. It is a party of workers, poor people and those who lead simple lives. Likewise, the TVK is also a party for the poor and ordinary people. There will be no need for Communist parties to fight anymore. That was the situation under the previous regime. The present Chief Minister is for the poor," Anand said.

Addressing the second state conference of the Tamil Nadu Rural Development Department Workers' Union at a private college campus near Manapparai in Tiruchy district, Anand said sanitation workers rendered an invaluable service to society and deserved greater recognition and welfare measures.

"There is no one in the world who can serve society as sanitation workers do, and there will never be anyone like them," he said, adding that he did not know why previous governments had failed to take adequate measures for their welfare.

Anand assured the workers that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay would consider all their demands and ensure that their interests were protected.

He also assured sanitation workers that the government would not abandon them and said ministers and legislators would not indulge in wrongdoing. "We have won because people were ready to vote for the leader. I firmly assure you that MLAs and ministers will never do wrong," he said.