Farmers defy police, take out rallies on tractors, bikes
Item
Title
Farmers defy police, take out rallies on tractors, bikes
Description
Trichy/Madurai: Ignoring stern warnings from the police, hundreds of farmers and members of trade unions took out rallies on tractors, two-wheelers and bullock carts in the delta districts on Tuesday in support of the farmers protesting in Delhi for withdrawal of the three new farm laws. The rallies were held in Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvaur and Trichy districts according to a decision taken by the state-level meeting of All India Farmers’ Struggle Coordination Committee and labour unions. Police did not grant permission for the rally in these districts and also warned of stern action if they went ahead. In Trichy, the farmers converged near MGR statue near district court and tried to proceed, but a large posse of police intercepted them citing the prohibition. Chaos prevailed with the farmers trying to cross the barrier and police stopping them, but after some time they were allowed to proceed. In Thanjavur, protesters converged at Melavastha Savadi and proceeded towards the new bus stand riding tractors, two-wheelers and bullock carts. Police blocked them 100 metres away leading to arguments. Finally the protesters managed to break the barrier and complete their rally at the bus stand. Similar incidents were seen in Tiruvarur also where the protesters came on 75 tractors headed by DMK MLA Poondi Kalaivanan and Congress, communist and VCK leaders. In Trichy, Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam leader Ayilai Sivasuriyan, G Suresh of AITUC and members of DYFI as well as various other opposition parties and Tamil outfits like Makkal Adhikaram participated in the rally. In Thanjavur, DMK MLAs Durai Chandrasekaran, M Ramachandran and TKG Neelamegam participated. In Madurai, CPM staged a demonstration in the evening protesting the attack on farmers who took out the tractor rally in Delhi. Madurai urban district CPM secretary R Vijayarajan led the protest near Pandi Bazaar which was attended by Su Venkatesan, MP too.
Publisher
The Times of India
Date
2021-01-27
Coverage
Trichy