Farmers Worst-Hit in 105 Days of TVK Rule: Udhayanidhi

THANJAVUR: Farmers were the worst affected in the last 105 days of TVK rule in the state, said Udhayanidhi Stalin, Leader of Opposition, at Pattukottai on Sunday.

Mr Udhayanidhi said that Mettur dam has not yet been opened this year, affecting the Kuruvai cultivation. " If I demand relief to farmers, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay is saying in the Assembly that the Kuruvai package had been given. Package is to help cultivation and relief is to compensate for the loss. Ruling party MLAs come to assembly not to speak about people's issues but to make reels. Performance of the government is making people doubt whether it is an assembly or a circus," said Mr Udhayanidhi.

"I have to be careful while speaking in Thanjavur district. Last time some people in the audience put me into trouble. But I only asked about Cauvery water. They get irritated whenever I talk about Cauvery," said Mr Udhayanidhi

He alleged that the TVK administration had failed to honour key electoral promises such as monthly financial assistance for women, subsidised cooking gas cylinders and unemployment allowances.

Referring to his recent arrest during a protest in support of farmers' demands in Thanjavur, he alleged that the police had "abruptly altered the route to Sengipatti station" and made contradictory submissions in court regarding his detention.

The DMK leader also condemned the state government's decision to procure luxury cars for ruling party MLAs, while claiming a lack of funds to waive farm loans, provide the promised Rs 2,500 monthly assistance for women, distribute free cooking gas cylinders or implement unemployment allowances. He reiterated that DMK legislators had flatly refused to accept the government-funded vehicles.

He claimed that the previous DMK-led 'Dravidian Model' government had helped Tamil Nadu achieve a primary growth rate of 11.19 per cent, while alleging that the present administration had pushed the state's progress backwards.