Lok Sabha polls: Tamil Nadu farmers ultimatum to both Congress, BJP leaders

TIRUCHY: The 'Desiya Then Indhiya Nathigal Inaippu Vivasayeegal Sangam' gave an ultimatum to the National leadership of both the BJP and the Congress on Saturday, stating that unless they were invited to the national capital New Delhi by April 6 and assured on the farmers' charter of demands, they will go ahead with their plan of fielding rebel candidates in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

The association's state president P. Ayyakannu told newsmen after their state-level office-bearers meeting held at Tiruchy on Saturday that a resolution to this effect was adopted at the meeting.

The farmers demands include profitable price for agricultural produces, waiver of all farm loans, link all major rivers in the country and a monthly pension of Rs.6,000 for all farmers above 60 years.

He said since such long pending demands can only be resolved by the national parties, they have given an ultimatum to both the BJP and Congress parties. If they did not invite them for negotiations, as per their original plan and assure to include their demands in their respective party manifestos, 111 farmers from Tamil Nadu will leave for Varanasi on April 22, reach there on April 24 and will be beg on the streets there like 'Aghoris', to raise money for caution deposits for filing of nominations by 111 farmers against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other national leaders like Priyanka Gandhi or any other leader from the Congress party, on April 25, he added.

He appealed to the BJP President Amit Shah and Congress President Rahul Gandhi to invite them for negotiations on or before April 6, to find a solution for the farmers' long- pending demands.

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