Chennai: State agriculture minister M R K Panneerselvam accused the previous AIADMK govt of not working for the welfare of the farmers, alleging that there were 102 farmer suicides in Tamil Nadu during the opposition party’s rule.Replying to the debate on the interim agriculture budget, Panneerselvam said, in contrast, there were no farmers suicide under the DMK govt. He said chief minister M K Stalin addressed the grievances of the farmers promptly and ensured their welfare.“No farmer dies in our rule in the last five years. Whereas there were 102 farmers’ suicide in the previous AIADMK regime,” he said due to the DMK’s govt’s welfare measures and targeted farmers’ outreach.“We implemented several schemes for the welfare of the farmers. More than Rs 2,000 crore was given as relief for the farmers who suffered crop damage during natural calamities,” Panneerselvam said.Recalling the visits of Stalin to various places affected by cyclones, Panneerselvam said Stalin respected farmers. “Once, Stalin travelled on a tractor in Cuddalore district to study the extent of crop damage,” he said. Panneerselvam said the CM also ensured prompt release of water from the Mettur dam every year on the customary date of June 12. “Did the AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami release Mettur water on time?” Panneerselvam asked.The agriculture minister said AIADMK was attempting to set a false narrative that agriculture sector was not growing under the DMK govt. “In reality, agri sector was growing. There were no protests from farmers, unlike the previous AIADMK regime. We regulalry interacted with farmers, and schemes were designed based on their inputs,” Panneerselvam said.
