Tamil Nadu CM asks farmers to end protest in Delhi, says will speak to Modi

The farmers have been demanding intervention by Centre to write off their loans from nationalised banks, a revised drought relief package and resolve the alleged drying up of the Tamil Nadu leg of the Kaveri river. The state government and the Madras High Court have already waived their loans from co-operative banks.

Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi Palaniswami visited the protesting farmers from his state at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Sunday morning and urged them to end their agitation.

Tamil Nadu farmers during their protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Saturday. (PTI)

Palaniswami also assured the protesters that he will submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the plight of farmers and ask him to waive off their loans. Palaniswami has reportedly discussed the issue with finance minister Arun Jaitley and home minister Rajnath Singh.

Over the past 40 days, the farmers have grabbed national attention through novel, and often shocking, forms of protest. They have shaved their heads and half their moustaches, put mice and snakes in their mouths, conducted mock funerals, flogged themselves, stripped at Raisina Hill, and carried skulls of farmers who committed suicide due to debt pressure. On Saturday, they said they would drink urine but were persuaded not to by Delhi Police.

The farmers have been demanding intervention by Centre to write off their loans from nationalised banks, a revised drought relief package and resolve the alleged drying up of the Tamil Nadu leg of the Kaveri river. The state government and the Madras High Court have already waived their loans from co-operative banks.

In Saturday, the farmers had decided to “wait” for two days to see what steps the government takes to help them.