With news of migrant workers in Tamil Nadu fleeing the state, organisations such as the South Indian Mills Association (SIMA), the Chennai Hotel Association, and the Tiruppur Exporter Associations have come forward to offer assistance to the migrant workers. It has been reported that North Indian migrant labourers, primarily from Tiruppur and surrounding areas, were fleeing the state fearing attacks against them.
In this context, Tamil BJP Coimbatore South MLA and BJP National Women’s Wing President Vanathi Srinivasan has urged the Tamil Nadu government to arrest those who spread venom against North Indian workers under the National Security Act (NSA).
In a press release MLA Vanathi Srinivasan said, “It is deeply concerning that labourers from northern states working in Tamil Nadu are returning to their home states out of fear of insecurity. Every Indian citizen has the right under our Constitution to live and work anywhere in India.”
MLA added, “People from one state moving to another, settling down, and raising families for generations has been happening in India for a long time. I’ve been travelling through out the country since becoming the BJP’s National President for Mahila Morcha. I’ve travelled to every state and union territory. Everywhere I go, I run into native Tamils. I even met Tamils in Lakshadweep, which is 400 kilometres from Cochin by sea. When they saw me, they ran up to me and hugged me as if they were seeing one of their own relatives.”
Vanathi Srinivasan added that Tamils had contributed to the development of major cities such as Delhi, Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, and Tamils such as Tamil Selvan have become MLAs in Maharashtra and various others have become councillors in the Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru Municipal Corporations, demonstrating that Tamils are present throughout India. During her campaign for Chandigarh Municipal elections, she met Tamils descended from Cuddalore, Salem, and Villupuram in Chandigarh.
She further said, “No state in India is inhabited solely by its indigenous people. It does not work. People from every state work in every other state. Every major city in India is now a mini India.”
She added, “We adhere to the high civilization and culture of ‘Vasudaiva Kutumbakam’ and ‘Yadum Oore Yavarum Keleer,’ which mean that the world is one family. People of Tamil Nadu do not see any difference. Tamils are used to seeing everyone as brothers. However, a few fringe groups are sowing hatred against North Indian workers in order to divide the people for political gain. For many years we have been insisting that this should be nipped in the bud. Workers from northern states do not come to Tamil Nadu on their own; rather, Tamil shop owners and businessmen bring North Indians to Tamil Nadu for work. If there are no workers from the northern states, the industries in Tamil Nadu will come to a standstill.”
MLA Vanathi Srinivasan went on to say that business organisations such as the Federation of Tamil Nadu Traders Associations, SIMA, and the Chennai Hotel Associations have expressed concern that their operations have been harmed because northern workers are fleeing due to fear.
MLA further added, “Shri. M.K. Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, proudly declared that he had entered national politics. The time had come to put his words into action. “India is one nation, and this nation belongs to all,” is the essence of national politics.”
She concluded by saying, “Therefore, the Tamil Nadu government should take strict action against the organizations, their leaders and individuals who are sowing hatred against the North Indian workers. They should be arrested under strict laws like the National Security Act. It is the responsibility of the Tamil Nadu government to protect workers who contribute to the development of the state. The Chief Minister should ensure it.”
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