Farmers association backs AIADMK-BJP alliance

Coimbatore: The Tamil Nadu Farmers Association (apolitical) has decided to back the AIADMK-BJP alliance in the upcoming Lok Sabha election.
“Even though we had invited all political parties to the general body meeting of the association that was held here on March 26, only AIADMK representatives and BJP candidate for Coimbatore constituency CP Radhakrishnan attended the event,” state president of the association NA Ponnusamy told reporters on Monday.

“They have promised to fulfil farmers’ demands upon forming the government. I urge all farmers to back the AIADMK-BJP alliance and work for their victory. If they fail to fulfil our demands, we would not back them during the upcoming assembly election,” he said.

The central government has formed an inquiry commission to look into the damages caused by drought and has assured to increase the compensation amount, Ponnusamy said. “It was the AIADMK government, which constructed a memorial hall for farmers’ leader C Narayanasamy Naidu. It also distributed Rs 5lakh each to the families of the 46 farmers, who were shot dead during protests in the 70s.”

“The AIADMK-BJP alliance has agreed to provide Rs 5,000 monthly pension to the farmers, who are older than 65 years. They parties have also agreed to give a compensation of Rs 10lakh to the families of farmers if the breadwinner passes away,” Ponnusamy added.