After Rajnath, Jaitley, farmers walk to President

“We explained the plight of farmers in Tamil Nadu and urged the President to approve waiver of loans availed from all banks, including nationalised banks, as the state had witnessed severe drought. The President who patiently listened to our grievances, said that he was aware of the difficulties faced by us and assured that he would forward the petition to the Government,” Ayyyakannu said.

Earlier in the day, the farmers met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to present their case. Both minister assured that they would look into the issue, farmers said. 

sue, farmers said. “Though the ministers assured us that they would consider our requests, we will not leave Delhi until our demands are met,” Ayyakannu told DTNext.

Leaders from Tamil Nadu cutting across the political spectrum have offered their support to the state’s farmers who have been protesting at Jantar Mantar for the past 15 days demanding a drought relief package of Rs 40,000 crore from the Centre and farm loan waiver. Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai, who visited the agitating farmers on Tuesday for a second time, assured them that the issue would be placed before Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the earliest.

“We have met the ministers concerned and have even raised the issue in Parliament. It is not just the issue of one state, but pan-India. We will be meeting the Prime Minister on this,” said Thambidurai. 

The AIADMK leader also requested the farmers to call off the protest. Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister R Doraikkannu, who accompanied Thambidurai, apprised the farmers about the steps the government has taken to address their problems. 

DMK’s Rajya Sabha MPs TKS Elangovan and RS Bharathi and Pondicherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy also visited the farmers and offered their support.