High drama prevailed on the second day of the strike called by various unions in the State after scores of workers affiliated to various trade and transport unions staged demonstrations demanding for social security and minimum wages at various parts of the city on Wednesday.
Chennai:
Tension prevailed at Guindy railway station when around 800 union members, including those part of CITU, AITUC, HMS, took part in a rail roko. Policemen tried to pacify the protesters and sought them to disperse.
After multiple futile attempts, the police tried to quell the protesters with mild force. Similarly, protesters attempted to disrupt rail routes at Perambur, Tambaram and Pallavaram.
Official sources said that nearly 600 persons, including 80 women, were detained on Guindy Race Course Road. They were allowed to leave after 6 pm.
Also, 220 protesters were detained at Perambur.
However, barring such protests, the second day of the strike evoked a poor response with normal life remaining unaffected in the city. Autorickshaws, share-autos and cabs operated as usual.
The general secretary of Chennai Managara Motor Vagana Thozhilalar Sangam, B Anbazhagan, said, “The transport workers affiliated to the ruling party and non-union drivers alone operated.”
MTC buses were also operated without interruption. CITU, working president, A Soundarrajan said, “If our demands are not heard then we will go on a vigorous strike. So, I urge the government to look into our needs.”