TN farmers call-off protest after Palaniswami's assurance

Palaniswami had assured that he will take up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for funds.

Tamil Nadu farmers, who have been protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar for over 40 days, called off their agitation till May 25 after Chief Minister K. Palaniswami's assurance of help.

The TN farmers have been protesting in the national capital demanding loan waivers, drought relief packages and formation of a Cauvery management board to resolve their irrigation issues.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami, who met them on Sunday, assured that he will take up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for funds to waive off the loan and urged the farmers to end their protest.

In past 40 days, the protesting farmers have marched naked outside the Prime Minister's office, ate mice, shaved their heads, marked mock funerals and on Saturday even drank their urine to attract the central government and the Prime Minister's attention towards their cause and plight.

Bold in their way of protesting, farmers demonstrate with the skulls of their kin and other farmers from Tamil Nadu who committed suicide.

Earlier this month, the central government approved Rs 1,712 crore under the National Disaster Response Fund for Tamil Nadu. But the state government has sought a relief package of Rs 40,000 crore.

Tamil Nadu is facing a severe drought. In January, the state government declared Tamil Nadu drought-hit after over 100 farmers allegedly committed suicide. According to the farmersm nothing has grown over 29 lakh hectare in Cauvery delta since 2016 due to lack of water.

OneIndia New