111 farmers will contest against PM in Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, says association
Desiya Thennidia Nadigal Innaippu Vivasayigal Sangam has been demanding, among other things, inter-linking of the Godavari and Cauvery and waiver of crop loans
Desiya Thennidia Nadigal Innaippu Vivasayigal Sangam (Farmers Association for Interlinking of National and South Indian Rivers), a farmers association from Tamil Nadu, has claimed it would eld 111 farmers as Independents against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency in protest against his “failure” to ful l his election promises.
The association has been demanding, among other things, inter-linking of the Godavari and Cauvery rivers, remunerative prices for all agricultural produce, waiver of all crop loans, including those sanctioned by nationalised banks, and a monthly pension of ₹5,000 to all farmers above the age 60.
“The Prime Minister has failed to ful l his promises, especially on inter-linking of rivers and doubling farmers income. While corporate loans were being written o, the Centre was refusing to waive crop loans,” P. Ayyakannu, president of the association, told The Hindu here on Tuesday.
Mr. Ayyakannu, who led a protracted farmers protest in New Delhi in support of the demands in 2017, would be among the farmers to le nominations. “We are leaving Tiruchi on May 10 and we will march naked to the oce of the Returning Ocer in Varanasi to le the nominations,” he said.
The 79-year-old farmers’ leader hailing from Musiri in Tiruchi district had announced a similar plan in 2019 but dropped it after meeting the then BJP president, Amit Shahz, in New Delhi. “We shelved our plan then based on the assurances of Mr.Shah. But our demands still remain unful lled. We are rm this time. Our only apprehension is that we should not be prevented from taking up the journey,” he said.