Tamil Nadu manufacturers count on return of migrant workers after Holi

Chennai, Mar 6 (KNN) Tamil Nadu’s manufacturers and industry community has expressed concerns over the likelihood of mass departure of North Indian labourers amid viral videos allegedly showing Hindi-speaking men being assaulted in the state.

An established construction engineer in Chennai told Indian Express that workers who had left for their homes a week ago to celebrate Holi and those who had left over the last three days were terrified because of reports of attacks and killings.

Tamil Nadu is home to nearly 10 lakh migrant workers as per government data.

Jaya Vijayan, Secretary of the Chennai District Small Scale Industries Association has warned that the entire industrial and manufacturing sector in Tamil Nadu will come to a halt if these rumours (of attacks on north Indian workers) continue to escalate.

“Without the workforce from North India, we cannot not operate in Tamil Nadu. We are waiting to see how many of these workers return after Holi,” added Vijayan.

Trouble in the state started when two videos allegedly showing migrant workers being beaten up in Tamil Nadu went viral recently on social media and WhatsApp groups, reported Indian Express.  (KNN Bureau)