200 farmers sit in protest at Egmore, Kamal extends support

After staging two-day long protest at New Delhi along with thousands of farmers from across India, the Tamil Nadu farmers along with Ayyakannu arrived here from New Delhi at the Chennai Central station. From Central, they came to Egmore station to board a train to Tiruchy, when they suddenly sat on a protest at the third platform. They were detained and released later.

Meanwhile, actor-politician Kamal Haasan on Sunday met with the farmers, who were part of the Kisan Mukti March in Delhi and assured his support for their cause.

The farmers were greeted at the Egmore railway station by Makkal Needhi Maiam president Kamal Haasan.

Later, Kamal spoke to reporters on the struggles faced by the farmers. “It is unfair to criticise the method of protests adopted by our farmers without paying heed to the issues they are putting forth. When people say it was not appropriate for them to strip in protest that is looking past the real issue. If someone is saying that they are hungry that must be the focal point. Not how they chose to express that,” Kamal said. He also spoke to the farmers and assured the support of Makkal Needhi Maiam in their effort to get loan waiver and higher minimum support price for their produce. 

Kamal also highlighted the issues faced by farmers in the Cauvery Delta after Cyclone Gaja. He said that those who had coconut farms have lost practically everything and it would take years to get back on their feet. 

He drew attention to the fact that more areas in the region are yet to get relief from the state government. Kamal added that a complete waiver of all loans of farmers in the affected regions is the only appropriate measure needed to bring relief to the farmers at this hourof crisis.