TN This Week: Facing Shutdown, Ford Car Workers Demand Better Settlement

The souring relationship between All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reached new heights this week after former Minister and AIADMK's organisational secretary C Ponniyan lashed out at his alliance party. He accused the BJP-led Central government of stealing the state's revenue, of 'anti-Tamil' policies, and claimed that the saffron party is attempting to widen their base in Tamil Nadu at their expense.

This is amidst the criticism that although AIADMK is the prime opposition in the legislative assembly, BJP is the one doing the job.

The BJP persistently retained media attention this week due to controversial and futile steps. The party's legislature leader Nainar Nagendran on June 1 said VK Sasikala, the aide of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, was welcome to join the national party. Hours later, the party's state president K Annamalai said the party's parliamentary board and senior leaders would take a call on that. Sasikala has expressed no interest in joining the BJP.

Six candidates from Tamil Nadu were declared elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha on June 3; one from the Indian National Congress, two from AIADMK and three from the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

Chief Minister MK Stalin, on June 2, called on the Governor at the Raj Bhavan in Chennai and urged him to give early assent to the 21 bills passed by the state Assembly and thanked him for forwarding the bill seeking exemption for the state from NEET for the Presidential assent.

The DMK-led state government celebrated former chief minister M Karunanidhi's 99th birth anniversary in a grand manner on June 3. It launched various schemes and disbursed awards to scholars and writers.

The fresh COVID-19 cases crossed 100 and remained so for three days in a row. Clusters have emerged in educational institutes, and the health minister said that it is due to students coming in from other states where the cases are not under control.

NewsClick brings you a round-up of the happenings this week in Tamil Nadu.

JOURNOS CONDEMN ANNAMALAI'S SLY REMARK

The media in Tamil Nadu has strongly criticised Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president K Annamalai for his derogatory remarks against journalists in the state and accusing them of being biased towards the ruling DMK. Read more

Meanwhile, Annamalai led a protest march towards the state Secretariat on May 1, demanding a cut in fuel prices by the state government. The Tamil Nadu Police registered a case against him and over 5,000 people for protesting without permission. Notably, the Centre has only partially reduced the taxes it has imposed since 2014.

Annamalai condemned the arrest of popular right-wing YouTuber Karthik Gopinath, who swindled at least Rs 40 lakh, which he crowdfunded purportedly for renovating temple statues controlled by the Tamil Nadu government. He did not take permission from the authorities concerned, and when asked to submit the mobilised funds, the police said he refused to do so.

Annamalai also came under fire for using the casteist term 'pariah' on his Twitter handle, and multiple cases were filed against him.

2,000+ FORD WORKERS GO ON STRIKE

More than 2,000 workers are on strike at automaker Ford's plant in Chennai, leading to the halting of production at the facility since May 30. The manufacturer is shutting the plant, and the workers are demanding better compensation.

The workers are allegedly holding onto an estimated 1,000-1,500 Ford EcoSport cars, yet to be assembled as hostages. Read more

'WITHDRAW ORDER' SAY RETRENCHED TTK WORKERS

TTK Healthcare Limited has retrenched 250 employees overnight in Tamil Nadu while selling its Human Pharma division to Bharat Serums and Vaccines (BSV) Ltd. Employees have demanded that management withdraw the "illegal" retrenchment order and reinstate the laid-off workers. Read more