Farmers Movement Archive

DMK-organized sabhas in south TN slam farm bills

Madurai: DMK MLAs in the southern districts conducted gram sabhas in the villages of their constituencies, defying the government’s decision to cancel them citing pandemic as the reason. The gram sabha held in Kovilankulam panchayat, presided by its president Jeyanthi Muthuraman, passed a resolution demanding the withdrawal of the farm bills passed by the central government which is alleged to be against the welfare of the farmers. DMK southern district secretary M Manimaran also participated. Police personnel interrupted the meeting and said that they did not have permission to conduct it, and the members of the DMK protested. Similarly, in Madurai West panchayat union, DMK MLA P Moorthy participated in the gram sabha held in Kodimangalam village, and panchayat president Alagu Lakshmi presided the meeting. Speaking to reporters Moorthy said that the central government is doing everything to destroy agriculture and calling itself the friend of the farmers. This panchayat also passed a resolution against the farm bills. A similar resolution was passed in the meeting held in the Nilayoor panchayat, in the presence of panchayat president Pasumpon and vice president Banumathy. Thiruparankundram MLA Dr P Saravanan also participated. In the gram sabha held in Pillayarnatham panchayat of Athoor union in Dindigul district, DMK deputy general secretary, I Periyasamy said that the Tamil Nadu government and the Centre is determined to destroy agriculture in the country through the farm bills. Union chairperson Maheswari Murugesan, panchayat president Ulaganathan among others participated and a resolution was passed demanding to scrap the farm bills. In the meeting held at Muhavoor village near Rajapalayam in Virudhunagar district, participants demanded to know why the Rajapalaya MLA S Thangapandian had not kept his poll promise and constructed a compound wall for the Sastha temple in the foothills of the Western Ghats. Tenkasi MP Danush M Kumar also participated.

The Times of India

2020-10-03

Madurai