DMK TARGETS CENTRE, AIADMK OVER FARM BILLS

The DMK along with its allies is gearing up to launch massive protests across Tamil Nadu on 28 September to urg the Centre to take back the farm bills passed in Parliament. The strategy about to go ahead with these protests was discussed at a meeting held at DMK headquarters on Monday. The meeting was presided over by the Dravidian party chief M.K. Stalin. DMK’s allies were also present in the meeting.

After the meeting which lasted for more than one and a half hours, a resolution was passed to stage demonstrations at all district headquarters and at all municipal areas on 28 September demanding the Central government to withdraw the farm bills. The resolution said that the farm laws will adversely affect the farmers and small traders. It also condemned the ruling AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu for supporting the bill. The passage of bills has once again put a question mark on “federalism” besides pushing poor farmers to a state of suffering, the resolution adopted at the meeting of DMK and its allies said.

According to the resolution, “The bills pave the way for the anti-social activity of hoarding farm produce and its passage in the Rajya Sabha through a voice vote without division was autocratic and trampled Parliamentary conventions.” Speaking to the media after the meeting, the DMK and its allies accused the BJP of trespassing into state subjects like Agriculture. They also alleged that the AIADMK government has just become a mute spectator to the central government programmes.

AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP S. R. Balasubramaniam had criticized the Centre over its urgency in pushing through the agriculture bills and stressed the need to have MSP for farm produce. But in the end, he toed the party’s line and supported the bill. Briefing the media, minister Jayakumar said that the stand of the AIADMK government is in line with the stand taken by the Chief Minister. Earlier Tamil Nadu Chief Minister issued a statement welcoming the bill. Indications are clear that the DMK and its allies will target AIADMK over its support to the farm bills, saying that the ruling party has gone against the interests of the farmers.