CHENNAI: Normal life is likely to be disrupted on Tuesday when several trade and transport unions are to extend support to a statewide bandh in support of the demands of farmers.
The Tamil Nadu Traders Federation, one of the two prominent traders associations, on Sunday announced its decision to join the stir. “We will hold a protest in Valluvar Kottam at 10 am on Tuesday,” said Vellaiyan T, president of the Tamil Nadu Traders Federation.
In Namakkal, the State Lorry Owners Federation-Tamil Nadu, Tamil Nadu Sand Lorry Owners Federation and Tamil Nadu Poultry Farmers Association extended their support to the bandh.
The TN Vanigar Sangangalin Peramaippu, which claims a 15 lakh membership, has backed the protest. The bandh call was given by the DMK to urge the Central and the State governments to offer financial aid to the families of farmers who committed suicide and to waive agricultural loans.
The agitation is backed by the Left, Congress, IUML and VCK.
Even as the bandh is gathering support from several quarters, PMK founder S Ramadoss said in a statement on Sunday that his party and its trade union would stay away from the protest. “While we support the demands, what is needed is constructive action and not a bandh,” he said. He also said the party has been pushing for measures such as free supply of fertilizers and pesticides and crop loan subsidies along with the demands put forth by the farmers in Delhi, but would not support the bandh that would affect the lives of others.