Chennai: Citing the continuous suicides of farmers, Leader of Opposition M.K. Stalin on Saturday alleged that the state government had not taken action to protect the livelihood of farmers despite the DMK insisting on the demand several times.
After submitting a letter seeking appointment to meet Chief Minister at the Secretariat, Stalin told reporters that so far 59 farmers had committed suicide due to drought conditions including the suicide of five farmers yesterday. The DMK had conducted all party meetings attended by the representatives of farmers and passed resolutions. A copy of the resolution had been submitted to the Chief Minister and the DMK had requested the ruling party to convene an all-party meeting.
Charging the state government with not taking any action to solve the farmers' woes, Stalin said the suicides of farmers are continuing. The state government had not granted financial assistance to the farmers, he complained and urged the state government to declare Tamil Nadu as drought hit.
A special session of the Assembly should be convened and a resolution should be passed on the farmers' plight in the state. Citing the death of farmers, PMK founder S. Ramadoss said the Central and state governments should take the responsibility for them. Charging the Centre with supporting Karnataka, which had refused to release water in Cauvery despite the Supreme Court orders, Ramadoss said it had led to the deaths of innocent farmers. He wanted the state to be declared drought hit and a compensation of '25,000 per acre.
