Press Statement
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:
Tamilnadu: Halt Repressive Measures Against Striking Employees
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the ordinance promulgated by the Tamilnadu government which provides for the summary dismissal of government employees. Faced with the indefinite strike of its employees, the state government has made an amendment in the Tamilnadu Essential Services Maintenance Act, which empowers the appointing authority to dismiss any employee who is deemed to have participated in the strike. No notice need be given nor even separate dismissal orders served. Employees can be dismissed just by putting up the information on the notice board of the office.
Such a draconian provision goes against the Constitution and the fundamental rights of citizens. The Jayalalitha government has resorted to repressive and anti-democratic measures to suppress the strike. Thousands of employees have been arrested and their houses raided all across the state. The state government has refused to seriously address the demands of the employees and negotiate with them.
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands an end to all repressive measures against the striking employees.