Farmers Movement Archive

Tamil Nadu CM says explanation will be sought from SRB on his criticism of farm bills

MADURAI: Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday said explanation would be sought from the party Rajya Sabha member S R Balasubramaniam (SRB) for criticising the agriculture bills during the debate in the House. SRB’s views were diametrically opposite to the party’s stand, which EPS himself had made clear a day earlier. The lone party MP in the Lok Sabha had supported the bills too. Interestingly, including SRB, all AIADMK members supported the bills in the RS. Palaniswami was responding to mediapersons’ queries at Ramanathapuram and Madurai. The CM said the MP had made it clear that it was his personal opinion and not that of the party. On the reasons for supporting the bills, he said, “We will support anything that benefits farmers and people of Tamil Nadu and oppose anything that affects them”. He said some parts of the Central bills had already come into existence in Tamil Nadu through a legislation that the state had passed last year. It was benefiting farmers, he said. Ironically, the DMK, which is opposing the Central legislations, had supported the state legislation, which is identical in nature. “Misled by politicians, who lack understanding of the agriculture sector, there are protests by farmers. The opposition parties also are protesting,” he said. The CM said the bills would not affect the minimum support price, which is already in vogue, and urged the farmer community not to heed to the false propaganda of the opposition. He rubbished the claim that corporates and traders would gain control of the farm lands. Hereafter, farmers will not have to destroy crops owing to steep fall in prices of commodities, especially tomatoes, he said. Reacting to the demand for a second capital, he said, “Every district is asking (to be announced as second capital). How many can we announce?” Responding to a question on rise in custodial deaths in the state, he said such deaths would be probed and the government would take action against those guilty. Palaniswami took a dig at Stalin saying he (EPS) was meeting people in person, unlike DMK chief M K Stalin, who was meeting people online. “Sitting at home, sporting goggles, gloves, mask and shoes, he is meeting people online,” said EPS. “I think he is consulting astrologer,” he said, reacting to Stalin’s claim that his party would come to power in 8 months. “People will decide who will come to power and not Stalin,” he added. Asked what would be the party’s stand if Sasikala, on her release from prison, decided to work for AIADMK, EPS quipped, “The question is unnecessary now”.

The Times of India

2020-09-23

Madurai