Tamil Nadu CM slams DMK for opposing farm bills, says Stalin criticising without adequate knowledge

“They (DMK) cannot find fault even if they look at the farm bills with a lens," Palaniswami told the media at Madurai airport.

The agriculture bills brought by the Centre would not affect the farmers. The AIADMK government stood by farmers and was concerned about their welfare. We will oppose any plans which are against the people and farmers, he said.

Reacting to DMK President M K Stalin’s remarks that the farm bills were pro-corporate and anti-farmer, Palaniswami said Stalin was speaking about the farm legislation without adequate knowledge.

Earlier, talking to reporters at Ramanathapuram, the CM said that the AIADMK had always been ensuring the welfare of farmers and other downtrodden segments of society who required assistance from the government.

He said that only because the farm bills were beneficial, had the AIADMK supported them in Parliament.

When asked about AIADMK’s Rajya Sabha MP S.R.Balasubramonian differed from the party’s stand and opposed the bills in the Upper House, Palaniswami said an explanation would be sought from him.

To a query on Stalin’s remarks that the CM should not call himself a farmer, he said Stalin is not a farmer.

"Hence, he doesn’t know anything about agriculture. I am a farmer. I am proud to call myself a farmer. My family has been involved in agriculture for long years. It would be advisable for Mr Stalin to remain calm," he added.

Palaniswami further said Stalin had signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for exploration of hydrocarbons in the Cauvery Delta districts knowing that they were fertile.

"Forgetting this conveniently, he has been attempting to blame it on us (AIADMK). It was late Chief Minister Jayalalitha who strongly opposed the MoU then, considering the interests of the farmers. The DMK may claim today that they were in the protectors of the farmers, but people especially the farmers in the Delta region would not have forgotten the DMK’s role in the hydrocarbon issue," he said.

Palaniswami said that the AIADMK government, in the last four and half years, had executed very many projects. The party, he said, can declare with pride that they have kept their promises.

He said the ambitious Cauvery-Gundar river link scheme would commence by January 2021. The 250-km stretch project that costs around Rs 14,000 crore would be executed in three phases.

Asked whether the AIADMK would support expelled leader V K Sasikala or align with her, Palaniswami said that he had come here to review the COVID-19 situation and hence would not like to answer the question.

Earlier, Palaniswami laid foundation stones for 220 new projects in Ramanathapuram district to be implemented at a cost of Rs 70.54 crore. He also dedicated various development work projects which were completed at Rs 24.24 crore and gave away financial assistance worth Rs 72.81 crore to 15,605 beneficiaries.

The CM also had given a letter of appointment, of junior assistant, to the slain soldier Havildar Palani’s wife Vanathi Devi, at the District Collectorate.