Tamil superstar Vijay has strongly criticized the DMK government in Tamil Nadu, denouncing their actions following the arrest of sanitation workers who were protesting for their rights. The actor-turned-politician accused the MK Stalin administration of carrying out midnight arrests of these workers.
The sanitation workers had been protesting for 13 days outside the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) headquarters against the privatization of solid waste management in Zones 5 (Thiru Vi Ka Nagar) and 6 (Egmore). Their primary concerns revolved around potential job losses and the demand for job regularization. The Madras High Court had directed the Tamil Nadu government to remove the workers, stating that their protest was obstructing public movement. Police informed the protesters about designated spots for demonstration, but they refused to relocate.
Vijay, the president of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), met with representatives of the protesting workers at his party headquarters in Panaiyur. He assured them of his party's full support, including legal assistance. Vijay explained that he chose to meet the workers at the party headquarters to avoid causing traffic disruptions and inconvenience to the public, a decision that drew criticism from some political leaders and social media users who felt he should have visited the protest site directly.
Following the meeting, Vijay condemned the DMK government for not fulfilling its election promise to regularize the jobs of sanitation workers. He referenced a letter written on January 19, 2021, by the incumbent Chief Minister (then the Leader of the Opposition) supporting the demands of the sanitation workers, as well as the DMK's Election Manifesto Promise No. 153. He stated that the government must regularize the workers' jobs and fulfill its promise.
Reports indicate that some women sanitation workers fainted and sustained injuries during the arrests that occurred at night. Vijay has characterized the government's actions as "fascist," questioning the treatment of the protesters. He emphasized that the workers' plight would melt even a stone-hearted person and criticized the government for lacking humanity and conscience, focusing solely on publicity.
The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has appealed to the protesting workers to return to work, clarifying that all workers employed before the July 16, 2025, privatization will be hired by the private contractor Ramkey and entitled to all benefits under labor laws. The GCC stated that since these workers were originally hired through outsourcing from the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM), there will be no government jobs for them.
The controversy surrounding Vijay's response has drawn reactions from various political figures. BJP leaders and DMK spokespersons have criticized Vijay for meeting the sanitation workers indoors rather than at their protest site. They questioned his commitment to being a reachable leader and accused him of avoiding direct engagement with the public. Some social media users labeled him a "work-from-home" and "corporate" politician. TVK defended Vijay's decision, citing safety reasons for choosing the party headquarters as the meeting location.
