DMK to back farmers’ rally in Tirupur

Announcing his party’s decision, DMK president M K Stalin on Sunday urged the ruling AIADMK to make efforts on war footing to implement the Anamalayar and Nallar water schemes for the benefit of farmers in the region. 

Ayacutars of PAP have announced a rally in Tirupur on Monday pressing for the implementation of the project and to stop the release of water from Neerar river to Kerala between October 1 and January 31.

Recalling that the PAP agreement was signed in 1970, when late DMK chief M Karunanidhi was chief minister, Stalin said that Tamil Nadu would get 2.5tmcft under Anamalayar scheme, which is a part of the agreement covering a cluster of rivers. 

Claiming that no progress has been achieved in the project during the last seven years under the AIADMK regime, following the Chief Secretary-level talks between TN and Kerala in 2011, the DMK president alleged that the Anamalayar-Nallar project, which would bring enormous benefits to TN farmers, has been shelved due to the carelessness of the incumbent State government.

Exuding confidence that the farmers rally in Tirupur would be a wake-up call for the administration, Stalin advised the State government to make efforts on war footing to execute the Anamalayar and Nallar projects to ensure that the benefits of the PAP agreement reaches TN farmers.

Stalin also urged the State government to immediately hold talks with the fishermen and fulfil their long-pending demands, including the supply of diesel at production cost.

Condemning Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Fisheries minister D Jayakumar for disregarding the protest of fishermen belonging to various districts, who have been striking work indefinitely since August 3 this year, Stalin accused the State and the Central governments of inaction despite Sri Lankan Navy repeatedly damaging the seized boats of TN fishermen. 

Charging the Centre and State of not acting despite Lanka nationalising three seized boats, Stalin, in a statement, said the fishermen who withdrew their strike have threatened to strike work again from October 25, if the government does not pay heed to their demand. 

Urging the State to exert pressure on the PMO on the issue, the DMK president asked it to make efforts in haste to end the Lankan Navy attack on the State fishermen and protect their lives and livelihood.