Krishnagiri: The Tamil Nadu farmers’ association organised a rally and a public meeting on Monday, calling out the state government for betraying farmers by making misleading pre-poll promises on loan waivers.The rally led by the association’s state president Rama Gounder, began near the Gandhi statue at Palaiyapettai. It was flagged off by the Tamil Nadu Cauvery farmers’ association general secretary P R Pandian, who also addressed the concluding meeting near the new bus stand.Speaking to reporters, Pandian urged the new government to prioritise farmers’ welfare. He called on chief minister Vijay to uphold his election promise of 100% waiver for small farmers and 50% for large farmers, without conditions. “The government’s recent order betrays farmers, pushing them towards distress and suicide,” he accused, demanding an inquiry into whether this betrayal was deliberate or due to departmental mishandling.He insisted that if financial constraints exist, cooperative loan recovery should be temporarily suspended and fresh crop loans issued. “Once the financial situation stabilises, complete loan waivers must be implemented to protect farmers from further hardship,” he added.He also demanded the creation of a new commercial department under the agriculture ministry, headed by an IAS officer, to fix fair prices for agricultural produce and ensure government procurement at those rates. He further pointed out the delay in converting procured paddy into rice for the public distribution system and called for immediate government intervention.Pandian also raised an alarm over pollution in the Thenpennai River, where untreated effluents from Karnataka threaten agriculture in several districts including Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Kallakurichi, Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore, and even Puducherry. “Despite orders from the southern green tribunal to stop the discharge, the Karnataka government has not complied,” he said, urging the union government to intervene and facilitate a permanent solution between the two states.
