DMK, AIADMK spar over JACTTO-GEO protest

The DMK demanded the State government withdraw the police cases filed against the protesters as well revoke the departmental transfers issued to them.

Former minister and DMK legislator Thangam Thennarasu, who spoke on the call attention motion mooted by the Opposition to discuss the JACTTO-GEO protests, blamed the ruling party for not holding prior talks with the government staff.

Stating that the strike by school teachers affected students preparing for their exams, Thangam Thennarasu said: “All that the government staff wanted was an interaction with the Chief Minister. The meeting is not going to cost the government. They (government employees) should have been heard.”

Responding to this, Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar said the State government through its senior ministers held several rounds of talks and the matter also reached the Madras High Court due to a public interest litigation. 

“Despite the State reaching out to the government staff and the Madras High Court directing the teachers not to go on an indefinite strike, they staged protests. Whenever there is a protest or road roko affecting traffic, the police act as per law,” Jayakumar quipped. 

Senior AIADMK leader S Semmalai wondered why the DMK was supporting the protestors, who he said burnt the GO copies issued during the DMK regime. 

In his reply, Thennarasu admitted that there were JACTTO-GEO protests during the DMK regime, but no police arrests or torture was resorted to against those who took part in the agitations.

Intervening in the issue, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said the State government will look into the demands raised by the Opposition. However, there was no clarity from the treasury on whether the police cases and departmental transfers will be withdrawn.