Backed by political parties, farmers across Tamil Nadu on Tuesday attempted to stage rail roko as part of a demonstration to protest what they termed were government policies that were against their interests. Police rounded up several protesters in Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy and Salem and other parts of the state and were later released.
Supported by opposition parties, including DMK, Congress, DMDK, MDMK, CPI and CPM, farmer federations attempted to stage a rail roko in various parts of the southern districts. In Kovilpatti, MDMK leader Vaiko created a flutter when he got into an altercation with the Tuticorin police. In Sivaganga district, a large number of CPM personnel supported the farmer protest.
In central districts, including Trichy, more than 1,000 farmers were taken into custody, when they attempted to block trains in the region. The attack on a farmer in Thanjavur by police for defaulting on loan repayment and the suicide of a debt-ridden farmer in Ariyalur farmer are said to be the triggers.
In Trichy, president of Desiya Thennidiya Nadhigal Inaippu Sangam P Ayyakannu led a group of around 100 farmers and party sympathisers to the railway junction. The entrance was heavily guarded by police who prevented the farmers from entering. There was tension in many parts of the three delta districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagappattinam where police personnel were deployed in large numbers.
In Coimbatore, 95 farmers were taken into custody for attempting to stage a rail roko at the railway junction to protest the farmer suicides and falling prices of coconut in the region.
Pointing to the three cases of farmer suicides in the state in the past three weeks, president of a farmers association Dr C Thangaraj said, "We want the Central and state governments to waive farmers' loans. This will provide some relief to them."
Thanagaraj also said the dip in coconut prices have added to farmers' woes. "The prices have dropped by 50%. Last year, the field price of a single coconut was close to Rs13 or 14, and it has come down to Rs6 today," he said.
Police foiled farmers' bid to stage rail roko in Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri and Erode districts. Police took into custody more than 500 farmers as they tried to forcefully enter railway junctions.
The farmers are demanding that agricultural loans be waived as it was driving many to suicide and also resulting in their harassment by banks and other financial institutions which extended them loans. In Madurai, members of several farmers' associations took out a procession from the Periyar bus stand towards the Madurai railway station. Three hundred of them including women, who attempted to block trains, were picked up by police.
Supported by opposition parties, including DMK, Congress, DMDK, MDMK, CPI and CPM, farmer federations attempted to stage a rail roko in various parts of the southern districts. In Kovilpatti, MDMK leader Vaiko created a flutter when he got into an altercation with the Tuticorin police. In Sivaganga district, a large number of CPM personnel supported the farmer protest.
In central districts, including Trichy, more than 1,000 farmers were taken into custody, when they attempted to block trains in the region. The attack on a farmer in Thanjavur by police for defaulting on loan repayment and the suicide of a debt-ridden farmer in Ariyalur farmer are said to be the triggers.
In Trichy, president of Desiya Thennidiya Nadhigal Inaippu Sangam P Ayyakannu led a group of around 100 farmers and party sympathisers to the railway junction. The entrance was heavily guarded by police who prevented the farmers from entering. There was tension in many parts of the three delta districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagappattinam where police personnel were deployed in large numbers.
In Coimbatore, 95 farmers were taken into custody for attempting to stage a rail roko at the railway junction to protest the farmer suicides and falling prices of coconut in the region.
Pointing to the three cases of farmer suicides in the state in the past three weeks, president of a farmers association Dr C Thangaraj said, "We want the Central and state governments to waive farmers' loans. This will provide some relief to them."
Thanagaraj also said the dip in coconut prices have added to farmers' woes. "The prices have dropped by 50%. Last year, the field price of a single coconut was close to Rs13 or 14, and it has come down to Rs6 today," he said.
Police foiled farmers' bid to stage rail roko in Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri and Erode districts. Police took into custody more than 500 farmers as they tried to forcefully enter railway junctions.
The farmers are demanding that agricultural loans be waived as it was driving many to suicide and also resulting in their harassment by banks and other financial institutions which extended them loans. In Madurai, members of several farmers' associations took out a procession from the Periyar bus stand towards the Madurai railway station. Three hundred of them including women, who attempted to block trains, were picked up by police.