Chennai: “All Workers Are Our Workers,” Tamil Nadu CM Stalin told Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar on a phone call on Saturday. Amid the ‘fake news’ of attacks on migrant labourers in Tamil Nadu are doing the rounds on social media, Stalin spoke to the Bihar CM to assure that none of the issues will impact the workers.
In a press release, Tamil Nadu CM Stalin said: “I contacted Bihar CM and my brother Nitish Kumar on the phone and spoke about the issue. I assured him that all the workers are our workers who are helping for the development of Tamil Nadu. Therefore, I assured that none of these issue will impact them.”
Stalin said, “Those spreading rumours on the attack against migrant labourers are against the harmony of India. The social media posts aimed at doing cheap politics are highly condemnable.”
“Some of the miscreants are trying to bring down the culture of Tamil Nadu and spoil the reputation of the state but their attempts will be foiled,” he said.
Stalin said, "Strong legal action will be taken against those spreading fake news with videos of incidents that took place in other states. "
The CM also said that the issue started after a journalist from Bihar posted a video of a clash between two individuals and alleged that it took place in Tamil Nadu.
Therefore, Stalin said that journalists and media should understand their responsibility, fact-check before publishing and function with journalistic ethics.
Addressing the migrant labourers, Stalin said, “Migrant labourers need not fear. If there is any threat, you can reach out to the helpline number.”
A few days, social media posts alleging that migrant labourers were attacked in Tamil Nadu went viral and soon the issue snowballed into a controversy. Currently, the police have issued helpline numbers 94981-01320, 0421-2970017 and are organising awareness camps to pacify the agitated workers.