From Kanji Thitti To Demos, Tamil Nadu Farmers Support Protests In Delhi

In Tiruchy they opened a ‘kanji thotti’ to highlight their plight due to new farm laws and announced that the protest will go on until the Centre withdraws the farm bills. They insisted that the farm law will certainly ruin agricultural activities in the country and many small time farmers would be forced to quit farming after handing over their cultivable lands to the corporates.

Around 87 persons were removed from the Coimbatore Collectorate. In Tirupur, 98 farmers who launched a waiting protest were arrested.

Farmers in Salem staged a protest in front of the railway junction pressing their demand to withdraw the laws.

As many as 20 members of Tamil Puligal, who attempted to barge into the railway station to hold a rail roko were arrested by the police. Other Western districts too witnessed similar protests by farmers.

Several persons affiliated with Tamil Nadu Farmers Association and All India Kisan Sabha and associated with political parties courted arrest in Madurai and parts of other southern districts.

In Madurai, 140 persons, including 30 women, have been arrested and its neighbouring Virudhunagar district, 247 persons were held. While 105 persons were arrested in Theni, 95 have been arrested in Sivaganga.

Similarly, the police also arrested 156 persons in Tirunelveli and 164 others, including 26 women, in Thoothukudi, sources said.

In Vellore and surrounding districts members of communist outfits took the lead and staged demonstrations Nearly 50 cadres were picked up from Vellore.

Similarly, at Vanyambadi, nearly 50 cadres of the Congress lead by party minority cell president Aslam Basha who attempted to travel to Chennai by two wheelers were stopped and arrested.

In Ranipet, 35 persons, including 5 women, all owing allegiance to the communist based Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam lead by farmer leader LC Mani were arrested.