Leaders of the Opposition parties, on Tuesday, alleged that the State government used the police and ruling partymen to break the strike called by them to highlight the “wrong economic policies” of the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre and its impact on the lives of ordinary men.
In a statement here, AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa said besides threatening traders, who voluntarily participated in the strike, the police along with the ruling partymen pressed them to stay open.
“But the general public and the traders resisted the pressure. Factories and industrial establishments remained closed,” she said, adding that the general strike had expressed the people's anger against the Central government and the DMK government in Tamil Nadu.
CPI (M) state secretary G. Ramakrishnan alleged that ruling partymen indulged in violence in Dindigul and Palani and forced the traders to keep the shops open.
CPI (M) cadre Kalaiselvan was attacked in Vatthalakundu and another cadre Raja in Palani. He said western districts in the State witnessed the full impact of the strike. CPI state secretary D. Pandian said the strike was a success, though the State government resorted to all methods to break it.
MDMK general secretary Vaiko said people and traders responded positively to the strike call.
Manitha Neya Makkal Katchi thanked the people for supporting the strike.
