Farmers call for all-party meeting tomorrow

The farmers said the Centre is showing step motherly attitude towards Tamil Nadu and leaning towards the interests of Karnataka. The agitating farmers added that they are pushed to starve to death or commit suicide by the Centre’s decision.

In Tiruchy, the Desiya Thennindiya Nathigal Enaippu Vivasayigal Sangam members led by its state president P Ayyakannu, who initially sought permission to hold their protest at the Central bus stand but denied permission by police, gathered at Cauvery bridge and raised slogans against the Union government and Karnataka. 

They wore a noose and attempted to ‘hang’ themselves as they have no other go as the Union government too deceived the farmers of Tamil Nadu. “The Centre and the Prime Minister has been looking the Cauvery issue politically. And both BJP and Congress has been acting for their party gains and not the welfare of the farmers. We are also living in a state that belonged to India and the Prime Minister should be common for all states but he is acting in favour of Karnataka,” said Ayyakannu.

When the police attempted to take them to the station in a vehicle, they refused to board the vehicle and walked towards the Srirangam police station which is close to the Cauvery bridge. When they went near the station, all of a sudden, they started lying on the road and crawled. And this time, the police took them under custody by force. As many as 36 farmers including a woman were arrested. 

Meanwhile, in Nagapattinam, as many as 22 farmers led by Cauvery Dhanapalan, general secretary of Cauvery Farmers’ Protection Association have reached Nagapattinam New Beach on Tuesday noon and tried to enter the sea half-naked to show their protest. Consequently, the police personnel prevented them from entering the sea and forcibly tried to push back some of the farmers who went into the sea. As a result, an argument broke out between farmers and police personnel following which the farmers were arrested. 

Speaking to the media, Cauvery Dhanapalan said, “Rather than working in our farmlands for Samba cultivation, we are now forced to protest for Cauvery water almost on daily basis. On the other hand, the centre which is obliged to implement the court’s order swindled Tamil Nadu farmers by filing a review petition. Now, the only way for us to gain our right in Cauvery water is to stand unitedly.” He also urged all the farmers’ associations, representatives of all political parties, trader unions, service associations to participate in the all-party meet convened on October 6 in Chennai. 

“We will discuss about the steps needed to win our right over Cauvery water,” Dhanapalan said.