‘Withdraw letter on surveilling students, youth staging protests’

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The State Platform for Common School System-Tamil Nadu (SPCSS-T.N.) urged the Chief Minister to declare the Chief Secretary’s directive to surveil protesting youth null and void and direct the Public Department to withdraw the letter.

In a letter to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, SPCSS-T.N. sought the minutes of the July 28 law and order review meeting. which discussed the participation of students and youth in protests. “It is further requested that the Chief Minister present the correct facts before the Legislative Assembly,” the letter added.

This is in regard to the State government’s circulars directing colleges and universities to prevent students from participating in protests organised by the Left parties and the Cockroach Janta Party.

SPCSS-T.N. General Secretary P.B. Prince Gajendra Babu said the statements of the Ministers in the Legislative Assembly made it clear that they were not informed of a major decision taken at the review meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary.

“In a parliamentary democracy, the elected executive, the Council of Ministers, guides the bureaucracy. The Council of Ministers, which is answerable to the legislature and the people, should be informed of every action of the government. In the present instance, the Chief Secretary failed to keep the Council of Ministers informed of the decisions taken at the law and order review meeting held on July 28,” the letter said. Hence, SPCSS-T.N. urge the Chief Minister to direct the Public Department to withdraw the letter.

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