The Hindu : Farmers stage demonstrations

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 10, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Farmers stage demonstrations

By Our Staff Reporter

G. Palanisamy, Thiruthuraipoondi MLA and leader of the CPI Legislature party, arguing with police for permission to take out a procession, at Thanjavur on Monday.

Thanjavur June 9. Members of the CPI and farmers association staged a demonstration here demanding the Farm Labourers Welfare Board be made functional. Their other demands included getting Tamil Nadu's share of Cauvery water from Karnataka, implementation of Kolappan committee recommendations, taking up drought relief on a war-footing and supply of protected drinking water in villages.

A procession led by G. Palanisamy, Thiruthuraipoondi MLA, and the leader of CPI legislature party, started from the Kamaraj Statue at Keelvasal here.

Mr. Palanisamy told presspersons that thousands of farm labourers became members of the board, which provides for payment of compensation in the event of death or disability. Membership fee to the tune of Rs. 7 crores had been collected.

Earlier, the police objected to the procession route and demanded that the members court arrest. Mr. Palanisamy asked the police to permit them to take out a procession till a certain distance and arrest them after the demonstration.

The members shouted slogans against the "anti-democratic attitude" of the police. Later they were allowed to take out a procession and arrested.

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Southern States