Farmers to Launch Indefinite Fast at Rajarathinam Stadium from September 1

Members of 15 farmers' associations will launch an indefinite fast at Rajarathinam Stadium in Chennai starting September 1, demanding a full waiver of all crop loans across Tamil Nadu.

The decision was finalised during a meeting held in Tiruchy under the leadership of coordinators Easan Murugaswamy and P. Ayyakannu.

The farmers' representatives criticised the state government's previous loan relief measures, condemning partial waivers of Rs 5,000, Rs 35,000, and Rs 75,000 as inadequate. They stated that the approach treated farmers unfairly while the administration allocated funds for purchasing new vehicles and providing Rs 1 lakh maintenance allowances for MLAs.

The association leaders further called for an immediate halt to government schemes that benefit corporate entities and alleged that a section of officials has been misleading the government regarding agricultural distress.