CHENNAI: Yet another effort by Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan to bring an end to the 29-day-old agitation of Tamil Nadu farmers in Delhi failed on Wednesday.
The minister met the farmers at Jantar Mantar and pleaded with them to have confidence in the Centre, which had been implementing many pro-farmer initiatives. He said while some of their demands were pertaining to Finance and Agriculture departments, other demands should be decided at the State level. However, farmers did not accept his request and announced that their agitation will continue till they meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Meanwhile, DMDK women’s wing leader and wife of party founder Vijayakant met farmers and expressed her party’s solidarity with them. After resorting to various methods of protest, the farmers on Tuesday adopted ‘munsoru’, a ritual being adopted by Tamils as a mark of penance for seeking the grace of Almighty to fulfil their prayers. While adopting this ritual, people eat their food served on floor without any plate or banana leave.
Expressing concern over the prolonged protests, Premalatha also joined the farmers in eating whatever was served on the floor.
Talking to reporters, she said the Central and State governments should take immediate steps to end the sufferings of farmers.
In Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, the State governments had waived the crop loans of farmers. “We should not remain mere spectators to this agitation anymore. The farmers are ready to withdraw their protest if the Prime Minister meets them. We will try our best to get an appointment with the Prime Minister,” she said.