Congress, PMK blame Centre for farmer's suicide

Chennai: The Congress and PMK on Saturday blamed the centre for the suicide of farmer Govindarajan in Thiruthuraipoondi, for loss of crops due to lack of water and demanded the waiver of crop loans for all the farmers.

TNCC president S. Thirunavukkarasar said the Cauvery delta farmers had been severely affected due to the centre's move of stopping the setting up of the Cauvery Management Board and preventing Tamil Nadu farmers from getting Cauvery water.

Recalling that the Congress government waived crop loans worth Rs 74,000 crore, he asked the BJP government at the centre to take a similar step. The Union government should also declare Tamil Nadu as drought hit state and allocate funds under special scheme.

PMK leader S.Ramadoss said the Centre is placing obstacles in the formation of Cauvery Management Board and Karnataka is refusing to release water from Cauvery. The north east monsoon rains was not sufficient to save the samba crops.

The centre and neighbouring states are acting against Tamil Nadu, he said and added that the state would be hit by drought if the rains failed. Ramadoss said Govindaraj ended his life as the crops, he had cultivated after getting loans, withered without water. For the last five years, kuruvai cultivation had failed and Govindarajan's debt burden would increase and he did not have the repaying capacity.