Protests by the farmers against the various “anti-Tamil Nadu farmer”’ measures by the Central Government took various forms as some groups conducted rail roko, others staged black flag stir, even as some tried to whip the slumbering Centre with gingelley plant broom while elsewhere farmers burnt copies of draft proposal to constitute a singular water disputes tribunal to hear and dispense all inter-state issues on Monday.
Farmers organizations belonging to political and social outfits had given a call for stirs against the Central Government move to constitute a singular water disputes tribunal, grant of crop loss compensation as sought by the State Government in full, waiver of all farm loans availed by the farmers, immediate constitution of the Cauvery Management Board, immediate release of water by Karnataka in Cauvery as directed by the Supreme Court, stopping the Karnataka move to construct a reservoir across Cauvery at Mekedatu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi must speak to the agitating Tamil Nadu farmers in New Delhi were the principal demands of the various groups of protesting farmers. The protesters also wanted the hydrocarbon project in Neduvasal village in Pudukkottai district scrapped.
The general strike call given by the Consortium of Farmers’ Organizations did not evince much support as most of the shops and trading establishments remained open and did usual business, public transport was near normal, autos and cabs plied as usual, government offices recorded regular attendance and banking operations were carried on without a hint of trouble all through the day.
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However, the Organizations’ state vice-president Kakkarai R. Sukumaran attempted to stage a rail roko but the police stopped them ahead of the Thanjavur Railway Junction. Undaunted, the group made brooms out of the gingelley plants that they said were devastated by the drought and gingerly the members slammed the ground ``trying to wake up the Centre in deep slumber’’. Promptly the waiting police posse picked up 21 farmers.
Highlighting similar demands, members of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam affiliated to the CPI (M) led by state general secretary P. Shanmugam staged a black flag demonstration in front of the Head Post Office in which Sangam district secretary Samy Natarajan and others participated.
The CPI affiliated Tamil Maanila Vivasayigal Sangam, Tamil Maanila Thozhilalar Sangam led by district secretary R. Thirugnanam burnt copies of the draft proposal of the Union Water Resources Ministry to constitute a singular water disputes tribunal as a mark of protest.
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In Kumbakonam, Cauvery Farmers Protection Association district secretary Swamimalai Vimalnathan led a group of protesters who staged a stir in front of the Head Post Office and were promptly arrested. In all 51 protesting farmers were held in various places in the district.
At Muthupettai in Tiruvarur district, farmers belonging to 14 tail end areas got together and staged a demonstration pressing the demands.