DMK has backed the farmers protesting in Delhi against new farm laws and has decided to organize black flag protests in all district headquarters in Tamil Nadu on December 5 in their support.
“As a respect for the farmers protest in Delhi and to get the three farm laws revoked to save agriculture, DMK would hold a democratic protest in all district headquarters on Saturday,’’ a statement from the party said.
A decision to this effect was taken at the district secretaries meeting held on Thursday. Condemning the BJP for bringing the new farm laws and the AIADMK for supporting them, the DMK said in a statement on Thursday that the Centre which ‘demeaned’ the protesting farmers and alleged they were instigated by opposition parties, has now stepped down from their stand to hold talks. “This is the first victory,’’ the party said in the statement.
BJP, which is ruling in the Centre, and AIADMK at helm in the state have rejected the pleas for waiver of farm loans. Farmers have been struggling on all fronts in the country. That’s the reason they have jumped into the massive protest in Delhi.
The protesting farmers who represent the agricultural community from across the country have succeeded in shaking the BJP government from their position of ‘arrogance.’
“In the initial days of the protest, the Centre ridiculed the farmers, alleged that they were instigated by opposition parties and attempted to intimidate them with police force. They have now stepped down from their pedestal and have called for a dialogue. This is the first victory for democracy,” the statement said.
Despite opposition from DMK president M K Stalin and party MPs, BJP brought the three farm laws that don’t talk about minimum support price, tends to do away with free electricity to farmers, aims to abolish regulated markets and mandis, only to benefit corporates.
DMK condemned the AIADMK for supporting the laws “to express their loyalty to BJP for the sake of political alliance,” the statement said.