The farmers in the Cauvery Delta region have accused the State Government of treating the farming community as second rate citizens.

The activists of Joint Movement of Farmers’ Associations observed a day’s fast in front of the Panagal building in Thanjavur condemning the government’s apathy towards the farmers’ issues. They were led by the movement’s state vice-president Sugumaran.

They urged the State Government to waive all the loans availed by them and to take immediate steps to get Cauvery water due for Tamil Nadu from Karnataka. They also wanted the administration to supply coconut oil instead of palm oil to all nutritious meal centres in the State.

Talking to reporters, the movement’s state president Deivasigamani said none of the 37 AIADMK members in the Parliament raised issues related to farmers in the House during the current session. “Nor have party members raised and discussed the issues in the State Assembly. The Government is treating the farmers as second rate citizens by not paying due attention to our issues,” he alleged.

Deivasigamani alleged that the Government had failed to put pressure on the Centre to immediately constitute the Cauvery Management Board and the Cauvery Water Regulatory Authority as recommended by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in its final verdict for ensuing due share of water for Tamil Nadu.