Farmers’ organisations in Tamil Nadu have joined hands to intensify election fieldwork against the ruling DMK, according to Eesan Murugasamy, founder of the Tamil Nadu Farmers Protection Association.
Speaking to reporters in Palladam, Tiruppur district, Murugasamy said the DMK came to power in 2021 with farmers’ support but failed to deliver on most of its commitments. He alleged that out of 83 promises made to farmers, only 10 were implemented, while the rest were not fulfilled.
He further claimed that despite assurances that land would not be acquired without farmers’ consent, agricultural land was taken for SIPCOT projects. He alleged that 1.10 lakh acres were acquired at low prices for 40 SIPCOT schemes.
Murugasamy also accused the government of undermining farmers’ land rights by reducing the value of “inam” lands to zero, and cited the use of the Goondas Act against farmers who protested peacefully to protect farmland in Tiruvannamalai. He additionally alleged cases were filed and arrests made against those who objected to illegal soil removal for a DMK conference and against protesters seeking higher wages in the poultry sector.
He said these issues have prompted more than 65 farmers’ associations to undertake coordinated election campaigning across the state to remove the DMK from power.
