P Ayyakannu’s supporters create tense moments

TIRUCHY: Members of the Desiya Then Indhiya Nathigal Inaippu Vivasayyegal Sangam led by their state president P. Ayyakannu staged a novel demonstration here on Friday. While some of them assumed an “upside-down” posture, few others knelt down and some others strung a sickle on their necks and stuffed a dead rat in their mouths.

These antics by the farmers group created a tense situation at the monthly agriculture grievances day meeting at the collectorate here.

According to Mr. Ayyakannu, though Mettur reservoir has been thrown open for irrigation, due to the insufficient discharge, water has not reach the tail-end areas of the Cauvery delta. He urged the Tamil Nadu Government to step up the water discharge from the Mettur reservoir to at least 20,000 cusecs to ensure the Cauvery water to reach all the needy farmers. He also sought write-off of all farm loans.

Later, a delegation led by Mr. Ayyakannu presented a memorandum to the district collector S. Sivarasu in this regard and took part in the grievances day meeting.

Members of few other associations also staged a demonstration demanding an ‘economic price’for their farm produce, among other things.

N. Veerasekaran, coordinator of the ‘Ayyanvaikkal Paasanatharar Sangam’in his memorandum to the district collector sought incentive to all the paddy farmers in the delta and not just for farmers going for direct broadcast of ‘Samba’ paddy.

Speaking on the occasion, collector Sivarasu assured the farmers that all their grievances would be addressed by the Government.