Farmers’ stir for relief enters Day 2

In Tiruvarur, R Mutharasan, the State secretary of CPI visited the farmers and spoke among them. He said the farmers would continue their protest till a definitive announcement was made by the Government about the demands of the farmers. He said as Kuruvai could not be taken up in the delta districts, the farmers have been cultivating Samba crop and due to the efforts of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, orders from Supreme Court have been issued for release of water into Cauvery. 

However, as Karnataka did not comply with these orders, water did not flow into Cauvery, he added. He pointed out that, even as the farmers took up direct sowing on the advice of the agriculture department officials, the north-east monsoon failed. Due to this the whole of Tamil Nadu has been reeling under drought. So far 45 farmers including four women have died due to the shock over the failure of the samba crop and the state Government did not announce anything about this, he added. He wanted the Chief Minister O Panneerselvam to spell out why central forces were deployed during the recent income tax searches at the premises and the offices of the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu. 

Meanwhile, a section of farmers led by the district Secretary K Suresh opened a porridge pot and served it to all. They said the farming community in the state is a neglected lot, who have to stave and no one will bother about them.