A group of farmers, representing various organisations, observed a day-long fast at Pullampadi near Lalgudi on Monday expressing solidarity with the farmers who are staging a protest in New Delhi demanding crop loan waiver, sanction of higher quantum as drought compensation from the National Disaster Response Fund and linking of rivers.
High drama prevailed in the morning as thee police refused permission for the fast with the farmers insisting on going ahead of the stir. However, the police relented later and the farmers observed the fast near the Kamarajar Statue in Pullampadi.
The fast was held on behalf of all farmers associations of Pullampadi. Some of the members of the Desiya Thennidia Nadigal Inaippu Vivasayigal Sangam, who had returned from New Delhi after participating in the agitation there, also participated in the fast.
Farmers leaders such as P.R.Pandian of the All Farmers Coordination Committee, Puliyur A.Nagarajan of the Tamil Maanila Congress Farmers Wing, and Cauvery Dhanapalan participated in the fast and expressed solidarity with the cause of the agitating farmers in New Delhi.
Mr.Nagarajan said the protesters condemned the Centre for allotting just about ₹2000 crore as compensation to the State while the Tamil Nadu government had sought ₹39,565 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund. They also condemned the Centre’s decision to go ahead with signing the contract for extracting hydrocarbon in Neduvasal despite opposition from farmers.
