Chennai: Scores of farmers from Tamil Nadu's Cauvery Delta region, who have been protesting in New Delhi against apathy towards the farming community for the last one week, called off their agitation on Monday after the Union government assured to look into the demands raised by them.
Union home minister Rajnath Singh will also chair the high-level committee meeting on March 23 to look into the drought relief demands made by Tamil Nadu. Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palanisami has demanded Rs 39,595 crore as drought relief fund to mitigate the crisis.
Though the state has released nearly Rs 3,000 crore for drought relief measures, it is hoping that the Centre releases more funds so that more measures could be taken.
The agitation was called off after Union minister of state for shipping Pon Radhakrishnan met them at Jantar Mantar in the national capital, the venue of their agitation, and assured that he will personally take them to ministers concerned who would give them a patient hearing.
"The farmers will be given a patient hearing by Union agriculture minister and others. Their demands will be fulfilled and the Union government is concerned about the drought situation in TN. It will take every measure to mitigate the crisis," Mr Radhakrishnan said.
His visit to the site came after Radha Mohan Singh wrote to finance minister Arun Jaitley seeking immediate release of funds since that is the main demand of the farmers. Radhakrishnan also told the farmers that the high-level meeting on March 23 would look into their demands and release funds accordingly.
