2 weeks ago
Palaniswami slams TN CM Vijay, says farmers' woes ignored
In the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, a leader named Edappadi K Palaniswami is very unhappy with the state's top leader, Chief Minister Vijay.
Mr. Palaniswami said the Chief Minister was busy moving his office into a fancy new room instead of helping farmers.
Farmers in the state were facing tough times because they did not get enough water from the Cauvery river for their crops.
To show their anger, Mr. Palaniswami's party, the AIADMK, held protests all over Tamil Nadu on Friday.
The protesters asked the government to forgive, or waive, the loans farmers had taken to grow their crops.
At a big protest in the city of Thanjavur, Mr. Palaniswami said the new government had not started any new help programs in its first 100 days.
He also said the government spent too much time on publicity instead of real work.
Some leaders from his own party did not join the protests because they did not want to travel far from their home areas.
Mr. Palaniswami also complained that the government borrowed a huge amount of money and took away pension money meant for government workers.
AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami criticised Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay for shifting his office to a modern room while farmers struggle.
AIADMK workers staged protests across Tamil Nadu on Friday demanding a complete waiver of farmers' crop loans and Tamil Nadu's share of Cauvery water.
Rebel MLAs S P Velumani and Natham R Viswanathan skipped the protest, refusing to lead agitations outside their home districts.
Palaniswami claimed the TVK government launched no new welfare schemes in its first 100 days and focused on 'reels' and publicity instead of governance.
Palaniswami said the government borrowed Rs 20,000 crore within three months and raised concerns over removal of pension fund allocations for government employees in the Budget.
- Who
- AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami and party workers, targeting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and the ruling TVK government.
- What
- A statewide AIADMK protest demanding a complete waiver of crop loans and Tamil Nadu's Cauvery water share, alongside criticism of the CM's office shift and the government's first 100 days.
- Where
- Across Tamil Nadu, with the main protest near the Head Post Office in Thanjavur.
- When
- Friday, August 14
- Why
- The party alleged the government ignored farmers' woes and failed to secure Tamil Nadu's share of Cauvery water.
AIADMK party leadership
Rebel MLAs
Leading the protests
AIADMK party leadership
The party leadership assigned S P Velumani to lead the protest in Theni and Natham R Viswanathan in Ramanathapuram as part of the statewide agitation.
Rebel MLAs
Velumani and Viswanathan said they would not travel outside their strongholds of Coimbatore and Dindigul to lead the agitation, and they skipped the protests.
Loyalty after the floor test
AIADMK party leadership
The 25 rebel MLAs defied the party diktat by voting for the TVK government during the May 13 floor test, later reconciling with Palaniswami and agreeing to function under his leadership.
Rebel MLAs
Six of the 25 rebel legislators later resigned and joined the TVK, accepting Vijay's leadership, while the others remained defiant of party positions.
Key facts
- Key figures
- AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami vs Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay (TVK)
- Protest date
- Friday, August 14
- Protest venues
- Across Tamil Nadu; main protest near the Head Post Office, Thanjavur
- Key demands
- Complete waiver of farmers' crop loans; Tamil Nadu's share of Cauvery water
- Rebel MLAs who skipped the protest
- S P Velumani and Natham R Viswanathan
- Floor test defections
- 25 rebel MLAs voted for the TVK government on May 13; six later resigned and joined TVK
- Governance claims
- No new welfare schemes in first 100 days; focus on 'reels' and publicity (Palaniswami)
- Financial claims
- Borrowed Rs 20,000 crore in three months; pension fund allocations for government employees removed in Budget (Palaniswami)
Quotes
Edappadi K. Palaniswami
Former AIADMK chief and former Tamil Nadu chief minister
“"The CM seems to be concerned about the aesthetics of his office while farmers in the state are struggling and working day and night in harsh weather conditions."”
theprint.in
“"The first 100 days in office have been marked by constant protests from various groups, including farmers, government employees, nurses, and doctors."”
theprint.in
Sources
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