CPI(M) stages walk out from Assembly

Chennai, Apr 30 (UNI) Members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), an ally of the ruling DMK, today staged a walk out from the Tamil Nadu Assembly, protesting against the police action against trade union leaders, who tried to hoist the union flag in front of the Hyundai car factory at Sriperumbudur near here.

Making a special mention, Ms Balabharathy (CPI-M) said it was unfortunate that members of the CITU were lathicharged by the police on the eve of May Day, when they tried to hoist the union flag in front of the car factory.

She said this was the fourth time that a section of the workers and trade union leaders were attacked and prevented from hoisting the union flag.

Police, after removing the flag, had arrested about 500 workers and unionists, including CITU President, she said.

Stating that the incident amounted to crushing the rights of the working class, she demanded that the government protect the rights of the workers and immediately release all those who were arrested.

Late Chief Minsiter C N Annadurai had always supported the cause of the workers and had even written a book on the rights of workers, she said.

Responding to this, Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy said the DMK government would always protect the interests of the working class.

He said the problem near the Hyundai car factory arose, when the trade union leaders hoisted the flag at a place belonging to the state owned SIPCOT. The government would consider ordering the release of those arrested, he said.

Dissatisfied with the minister's reply, the CPI(M) members walked out from the House, registering their protest.

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