Tamil Nadu Farmers Threaten To Resume Protest After State Government Denies Deaths Over Drought

Farmers from Tamil Nadu who held a 45-day long sit-in demonstration in Delhi recently threatened to resume their protest after the E Palaniswami government told the Supreme Court that no farmer had committed suicide in the state due to drought.

PTI

In a submission in the SC on Friday the Tamil Nadu government blamed "personal problems" and not drought for the farmer suicides in the state.

This comes after the Supreme Court on April 13th ordered the Tamil Nadu Government to file a detailed reply in the farmers’ suicide issue in two weeks.

Expressing displeasure on inaction on farmers’ suicide issue, the apex court lashed out at the government for not taking enough measures to prevent the farmers’ suicides in the state.

As expected the bizarre claim of the government did not go down well with the farmers.

BCCL

Ayyakannu, who has been leading the now suspended protest in Delhi said the state CM have to explain the statement.

"So what was the compensation that Tamil Nadu government sought from the Center. This is a grave mistake that the CM has done. Tomorrow we will counter it with all the FIRS in the court. Farmers committed suicide due to drought. I am meeting TN CM soon. I will ask for convincing explanation. If he doesn't give, we will launch agitation once again in Tamil Nadu."?

PTI

Opposition DMK called it a shame.

"It is a shame that the government of Tamil Nadu has filed an affidavit that many died of age, but farmers died due to shock of barren lands. That has been seen as suicide. It can't be taken likely. He is further humiliating saying they have submitted the report of collector. Not sure if he is collector or dawali to the collector," DMK Spokesperson TKS Elangovan said.

BCCL

Tamil Nadu is going through the worst drought in 142 years, which has resulted in a massive crop failure. 32 lakhs farmers are believed to have been affected by the drought. The farmers are demanding farm loan waiver, a drought relief package of Rs 40,000 crore from the Centre and setting up of Cauvery Management Board.?

Ayyakannu during the recent protest told Indiatimes that,

"In just past six months alone, 400 farmers have committed suicide. If the loans borrowed by the farmers are not waived off, 4 lakhs people in Tamil Nadu will be forced to commit suicide."

BCCL

The farmers who did everything from displaying the skulls of their loved ones who committed suicide to eating dead rats, snakes and grass, running naked near the parliament and being whipped by a man wearing a Modi mask had on last Saturday suspended their demonstration after an assurance by the Tamil Nadu government.