Supreme Court raps Tamil Nadu for not helping farmers even after suicides

The Supreme Court said it was “painful to hear farmers are committing suicide and the state government is not taking enough steps.” It directed the Edappadi Palanisamy government in Tamil Nadu to file a detailed reply in the case. 

In a significant order, the Madras High Court had on April 4 directed the Tamil Nadu government to waive loans of all drought-hit farmers and restrained cooperative societies and banks from recovering their dues. 

It noted that the state’s financial situation was grim and it was single handedly shouldering the debt burden in a drought year in which farmers were committing suicide and suggested that the Centre come forward to extend financial help to Tamil Nadu “during this difficult situation.” 

Meanwhile, in Guindy, traffic on the busy Kathipara flyover came to a grinding halt on Thursday morning after a group of youngsters led by director Gowthaman locked up the entrance using chains. 

The protests were held in support of the TN farmers agitating at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Police took the protesters into custody and cleared the traffic after breaking the chain.