Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin binned amendment out of fear: Edappadi K Palaniswami

CHENNAI/SALEM: Hours after the bill to amend the Factories Act to facilitate ‘flexible working hours’ was withdrawn, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday said chief minister M K Stalin had made the announcement out of fear as the entire labour force and the opposition parties had condemned the move.
Taking a dig at the CM for describing it as ‘a brave move’, Palaniswami said, “What is so brave about it? Is it brave to bring a law that will affect the workers?” Speaking at a public rally in Salem on May Day, EPS said the government sought to bring amendments to make it 12 working hours for four days, but the chief minister had ‘surrendered’ after opposition from the labourers, the AIADMK and even from the DMK allies.
The AIADMK leader also wondered about the “lack of response” from the DMK and the chief minister to the two-part audio clips purported to be that of finance minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, saying that the chief minister’s son and minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and son-in-law Sabareesan had amassed wealth. “If so, isn’t it true then? He is not an ordinary man but a member of the cabinet. Thiaga Rajan Vazhga (Long Live). There are many more clips to come out,” Palaniswami said, adding that Stalin “cannot escape”. He criticised the DMK allies for not speaking out on the issue.
Accusing the DMK government of indulging in ‘corruption-commission-collection’, Palaniswami said the law and order deteriorated in the state with village administrative officials being hacked to death or attacked. “The government is stuck in the hands of an incompetent CM. There is no safety for people, women and young girls in the state,” EPS said, pointing to recent crimes against minor girls in Salem and Cuddalore districts and the arrest of a DMK councillor.
In Chennai, AMMK leader T T V Dhinakaran said ‘arrogance and wrong administration’ of the Palaniswami-led regime resulted in the DMK returning to office and resorting to anti-people measures such as 12 working hours and automatic liquor dispensers. At a May Day event, Dhinakaran said true cadres were rallying behind him and the AIADMK could not buy them out.