Chennai
oi-Prakash KL
Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin on Monday warned that protests would intensify if the demands of Delta farmers were not addressed, as the state continues to await its share of Cauvery water from Karnataka.
In an X post, the DMK chief said, “Protests will intensify if the demands of the farming community are not met! On the day of ‘Aadi Perukku’, when the Cauvery river should be surging with water, Delta farmers are protesting as their own anguish surges instead!”
Stalin thanked leaders of allied parties, including Manithaneya Makkal Katchi MLA Jawahirullah, Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi state president Thamimun Ansari and Social Democratic Party of India state president Nellai Mubarak, along with farmer association representatives and DMK cadres, for taking part in the protest.
திமுக தலைவர் MK ஸ்டாலின், கர்நாடகாவிலிருந்து காவேரி நீர் வரத்தை வலியுறுத்தியும், டெல்டா விவசாயிகளின் கடன் தள்ளுபடி, குருவை நிவாரணம் போன்ற கோரிக்கைகள் நிறைவேற்றப்படாவிட்டால் போராட்டங்கள் தீவிரமடையும் என எச்சரித்துள்ளார்.
“The Cauvery water that should have arrived by June 12 has still not come, even after August dawned,” he added.
Stalin then attacked the Chief Minister’s silence regarding Karnataka’s refusal to release water, asking whether farmers’ lives are being held hostage for the sake of neighbouring film industries.
He questioned, “Tamil Nadu is witnessing a Chief Minister who has not uttered a single word of condemnation against the Karnataka government for refusing to release water to the state. Would you really gamble with the livelihoods of our farmers just to ensure a movie’s screening in the neighbouring state?”
The DMK chief asked why the actor-turned-politician is not holding an -party meeting regarding the Mekedatu Dam construction.
“Did the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, who is so eager to hold talks with a Karnataka government adamant on constructing the #MekedatuDam, see the news about the all-party meeting held in Karnataka yesterday? Does the Chief Minister not have the time to convene a similar all-party meeting here?” he asked.
The former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay for remaining silent over the difficulties faced by farmers, including the arrest of farmers in Nagpur, recalling how he has played the role of a farmer on-screen in the past.
“If you ignore farmers by refusing to meet them, and haul the agriculture budget off somewhere else, will your sins just vanish? Even as our farmers are arrested in Nagpur, the man who once danced on screen in the guise of a farmer is maintaining a guilty silence, without expressing any condemnation,” he added.
Stalin stressed that the state must act decisively to safeguard Tamil Nadu’s rights over the Cauvery River, warning that party protests will persist until these demands are met.
“The TVK government must fulfil its promise of a full loan waiver without further betraying the farmers. A special relief package for the Kuruvai crop must be provided, and the Delta districts must be declared drought-affected areas. The government must take vigorous action to uphold Tamil Nadu’s rights regarding the Cauvery issue, rather than allowing them to be disregarded. The party’s struggle will continue until this is achieved!” he added.
With inputs from ANI
