Tamil Nadu farmers protesting at Jantar Mantar over drought relief funds and waiver of farmers' loans have called off their protest till 25 May after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisamy's assurance.
Earlier on Sunday, Palanisamy urged the farmers from his state to call off their strike and assured them that he would take up their demands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He made the remarks after visiting the farmers at Jantar Mantar, for the first time, on the 41st day of their protest. Palanisamy was in the national capital to take part in a NITI Aayog meeting along with chief ministers of other states.
The farmers’ demands include a Rs 40,000 crore drought relief package, farm loan waiver and setting up of the Cauvery Management Board by the Centre.
Speaking at a press conference later, Palanisamy said the farmer’s issue was discussed at the NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting and their demands had been forwarded to the Prime Minister.
Over the last 40 days, the farmers have turned to increasingly desperate measures to direct attention to their issues.
They have shaved their heads and half their moustaches and kept mice and snakes in their mouths, conducted mock funerals, flogged themselves and even carried skulls allegedly of other farmers who had committed suicide due to debt pressure.
(With inputs frpm PTI.)
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