NLC agitation: 3 PMK MPs, one MLA arrested

Neyveli, Tamil Nadu, Apr 8 (UNI) As many as 850 people, including three Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) MPs and a MLA, were today arrested when they picketed the Neyveli Lignite Corporation'a (NLC) corporate office, demanding implementation of their 13-point charter of demands.

Police said Chengalpattu MP A K Moorthy, Chidambaram MP E Ponnusamy, Tindivanam MP K Dhanraj and Panruti MLA T Velmurugan were among the PMK leaders and cadres, trade unionists affiliated to the PMK and contract workers were arrested as they staged the agitation without police permission.

Before being whisked away by the police Mr Velmurugan told newspersons herethat the agitation would continue till justice was done to the contract workers. Mr Ponnusamy would lead the stir tomorrow and party President G K Mani the next day. After that, two MLAs from the party would lead the agitation each day.

If the issue was not resolved by then, the contract workers along with their family members would picket the residences of NLC officials and then PMK founder-leader Dr S Ramadoss would lead the stir the following day, he said.

The 13,000-odd NLC contract workers have been agitating since March 29, demanding, among other things, regularisation of services.

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