DMK has not secured relief for farmers: TMC

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, DEC. 22.The TMC today charged that the ruling DMK had failed to get Central concessions for the Tamil Nadu farmers facing acute distress, despite being a constituent of the NDA government at the Centre.

Pointing out that the TDP had secured major concessions from the Centre for its paddy farmers including the reclassification of its common rice variety as `fine', the senior TMC leader and former Union Minister, Mr. S.R. Balasubramaniam urged the DMK government to secure similar concessions for the Thanjavur farmers.

The TMC leader, who toured Kancheepuram district yesterday for an assessment of the condition of the farmers in the state, claimed that acute drought conditions and the steep increase in the cost of agricultural inputs had badly affected agricultural operations. Irregular supply of water and power had forced several farmers to hold up seasonal paddy cultivation, he told presspersons here.

The DMK government, keeping in view the `critical situation' of the farmers, should waive land tax, suspend the on- going distraint proceedings against the farmers for non-payment of loan dues and waive interest on their loans, besides offering a long- term instalment facility for repayment of the principal amount.

The government should also allow movement of rice from Tamil Nadu to other states as some of its rice varieties were popular in Kerala and procurement centres should be opened in non-delta regions as well, Mr. Balasubramaniam said.

Reiterating the TMC's demand for a judicial inquiry into the alleged irregularities in procurement of copra, he said, though an investigation had been ordered by the court into the issue, the government should order a full-fledged probe by a sitting judge.

To a query, he said the TMC was opposed to both the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu and the BJP-led NDA at the Centre. However, electoral alliances would be finalised only after the announcement of a schedule for Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu.

As of now, the TMC was part of a secular front and whether it would be converted into an electoral front would be decided only at the time of elections.

As for the AIADMK's rejection of the TMC's demand for a coalition government, Mr. Balasubramaniam said the two parties had stated their respective positions on the issue and `there is a possibility of a meeting point'.

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Section  : Southern States
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