Farmers’ forums unite, call for bandh on April 3

A clutch of farmers organisations have given a call for a State-wide bandh on Tuesday condemning the Central government for its failure to constitute the Cauvery Management Board, and also to demand the board’s immediate constitution as per the Supreme Court’s order.

A sense of betrayal and frustration among the farming community and the need to forge a united front to secure the rights brought together major associations including the Tamil Nadu Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association led by general secretary Mannargudi S. Ranganathan, Tamil Nadu All Farmers Associations of P.R. Pandian, South Indian River Linkage Farmers Association convener P. Ayyakkannu and Cauvery Delta Farmers Association Tiruchi district President S. Balu Dikshitar on a single platform here on Saturday.

Speaking after the deliberations, Mr. Ranganathan said that the Centre had betrayed the farmers by not adhering to the Supreme Court ruling on constituting the CMB and by seeking clarifications on the ruling when there existed no doubt. The delta farmers have been waging a long drawn legal battle for securing their rights and river water and the fruits of justice was sought to be denied by the Centre for political reasons.

To show the united resolve of the State, Mr. Ranganathan appealed to all political parties, trade organisations, civic bodies, citizens’ forums and other associations to join hands and participate in the bandh for reminding the Central government that Tamil Nadu must not be taken for granted in the Cauvery issue and that the constitutionally enshrined rights must be granted and adhered to.

Mr. Ayyakkannu said the Centre was seeking time not to implement the Supreme Court order but to see through the Karnataka Assembly elections.

Everyone must understand that the Cauvery issue was not a problem concerning the delta alone but impacted all across the State. “Our struggle must make the Supreme Court itself constitute the CMB if the Centre failed to create one,” Mr. Pandian said.

A resolution passed at the meeting stated that on Tuesday, farmers would resort to rail, road and airport rokos and gheraos of Central government offices.

Call for bandh

The Tamil Nadu Puducherry Advocates Joint Action Council has announced that it would boycott all court works on Tuesday to condemn the Central government for not constituting the Cauvery Management Board.

Meanwhile, a joint meeting of over 20 Tamil outfits has called for a bandh in Puducherry and Karaikal regions on April 11 to protest against the Centre’s failure to constitute the Cauvery Management Board. Members from various outfits including the Tamilar Desiya Iyakkam, the Dravida Viduthalai Iyakkam, the Federation for People’s Rights and the Tamizhar Kazhagam said the Centre was disrespecting the Supreme Court through its actions. The meeting called upon traders’ associations, transport bodies including private bus, tempo-traveller and auto-rickshaw unions, educational institutions, industries and all sections of the public to extend support to the bandh.