Date:14/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/14/stories/2008061459450700.htm

Tamil Nadu

Jayalalithaa blames Chidambaram, State government for farmers’ woes

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa on Friday blamed Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and the State government for a host of problems being faced by farmers.

The agriculturists were being hit by the shortage and rising prices of fertilizers and seeds, disruptions in power supply and non-disbursal of crop loans, she said.

Criticising Mr. Chidambaram for not fixing the minimum support price for paddy at Rs.1,000 per quintal, Ms Jayalalithaa said the Minister’s statement, referring the recommendation of the Commission for Agriculture Cost and Prices to the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, showed that the demand of Tamil Nadu farmers had not been accepted this time too.

Administrative lapses

“In the last six months, due to administrative lapses of the Union government, farmers are severely hit by rising prices, uncontrollable inflation and the hike in the prices of petrol and diesel,” she said.

Finding fault

She said people were saddened that Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, instead of finding solutions to the problems of the farmers, found fault with those who were highlighting the factual position.