Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Thousands court arrest in anti-privatisation protest

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI Jan. 8. Thousands of workers, affiliated to trade unions, courted arrest throughout the State when they attempted to stage dharnas today protesting privatisation of public sector units by the Central and State Governments.

The dharna was organised jointly by the INTUC, the AITUC, the CITU, the HMS and some other unions, in about 50 places. This is the first time the unions, irrespective of their political affiliation, joined together to protest `indiscriminate' privatisation.

While unions claimed that over 55,000 workers, including, 10,000 women were arrested, the police said about 10,000 were taken into custody, along with 1000 women. The arrested included J. Hemachandran, MLA, the union leaders, U. R.Varadarajan, T. K. Rangarajan, A. M. Gopu and S. S. Thiagarajan.

Earlier, the workers staged slogan-shouting demonstrations, condemning the Government's `anti-worker' measures.

In Chennai, 1200 workers, including 500 women, were arrested when they attempted to take out a procession to the Central station for picketing trains.

According to the unions, over 2500 were held at Tirupur, 1500 each in Coimbatore, Salem and Madurai, 700 at Tiruvallur, and 500 each at Kanyakumari, Theni and Hosur.

Transport workers

plan agitations

CHENNAI JAN. 8. The Tamil Nadu Transport Workers' Federation has decided to organise a series of agitations condemning the State Government's move to privatise transport corporations.

The federation meeting today passed a resolution to conduct an awareness campaign in front of the corporation depots on January 18 explaining to the passengers the ``evil effects'' of privatisation.

It has been planned to mobilise students, freedom fighters, and season ticket-holders for a human chain agitation on February 10 and conduct a rally, consisting workers and their family members, to the Secretariat during the budget session.

Representatives of the CITU, the AITUC, the LPF, the Employees Federation, the INTUC, the HMS and other unions participated.

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