EPS Slams Police Crackdown on Protesting Nurses
Describing the police action as the "height of cruelty," Palaniswami accused the government of unleashing authoritarian tactics against frontline healthcare workers
CHENNAI: Former Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) condemned the state administration and police on Tuesday over their crackdown on protesting nurses who were demonstrating peacefully in support of their long-pending demands.
Describing the police action as the "height of cruelty," Palaniswami accused the government of unleashing authoritarian tactics against frontline healthcare workers.
Taking a sharp dig at the Chief Minister, Palaniswami questioned how a leadership known for catchy rhetoric on social media could justify such harsh measures against professionals engaged in lifesaving public service. He recalled that before coming to power, party leaders and those who now serve as ministers stood before these very nurses making grand assurances.
Alleging the sharp contrast between pre-election promises and governance in practice, Palaniswami asked whether this contradiction is what the administration considers "change." The Leader of the Opposition also directed criticism toward the state Health Minister, alleging that the ministry has shown utter apathy toward both public health concerns—such as the reported spread of dengue fever—and the grievances of medical staff.