Leaders extend support to TN farmers protesting in Delhi

Leaders from Tamil Nadu cutting across the political spectrum have offered their support to the state's farmers who have been protesting at Jantar Mantar for the past 15 days demanding a drought relief package of Rs 40,000 crore from the Centre and farm loan waiver.
Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai, who visited the agitating farmers today for a second time, assured them that the issue would be placed before Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the earliest.
"We have met the ministers concerned and have even raised the issue in Parliament. It is not just the issue of one state, but pan-India. We will be meeting the PM on this," said Thambidurai.

The AIADMK leader also requested the farmers to call off the protest.
Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister R Doraikkannu, who accompanied Thambidurai, apprised the farmers about the steps the government has taken to address their problems.
DMK's Rajya Sabha MPs T K S Elangovan and R S Bharathi and Pondicherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy also visited the farmers and offered their support.

G K Vasan, the Tamil Manila Congress chief, said a meeting of the farmers with President Pranab Mukherjee would be arranged soon.
"We are planning to meet the President and apprised him about the difficulties faced by farmers," Vasan said.

The farmers are expected to meet Union Minister for Agriculture Radha Mohan Singh and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the evening. DMK MP Tiruchi Siva is expected to accompany the farmers during the meeting with Jaitley.