M.K. Stalin, working president of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), said here on Saturday that he would demand a loan waiver for farmers in Tamil Nadu similar to the one promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for those in Uttar Pradesh during the recent Assembly polls in the northern State.
Mr. Stalin, who is the Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly, visited the farmers from the State who have been staging a protest at Jantar Mantar for the past 19 days demanding a drought-relief package of Rs. 40,000 crore from the Centre and waiver of farm loans.
Leaders from across the political spectrum in Tamil Nadu have offered support to the farmers.
Taking a dig at Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami, Mr. Stalin said: “The ruling party is neither able to help nor get anything from the Centre. The Union and the State governments are playing a blame game. Instead of debating the issue, they should act immediately considering the hardship faced by farmers.”
Mr. Stalin said an all-party meeting would soon be held on the issue.
“I asked Ayyakkannu [who is leading the protest] to call off the strike, but the farmers are not ready to give up. An all-party meeting would be held in the State to decide the next course of action on the issue,” he said.
Communist Party of India national secretary D. Raja, and DMK MPs Tiruchi Siva and T.K.S. Elangovan were present.
