A delegation from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), spearheaded by Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy, the party’s national co-in-charge for Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, recently visited Thirumanthurai village in Thirupanandal taluk. Their mission on Sunday was to engage directly with local farmers and understand the challenges they face.
During these candid discussions, farmers expressed their appreciation for several initiatives introduced by the NDA government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They highlighted the positive impact of schemes like PM-Kisan Nidhi, vital fertiliser subsidies, increased Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their produce, comprehensive soil health cards, and robust crop insurance programs.
However, their praise was quickly followed by significant concerns regarding the implementation of these crucial programs by the State government, particularly concerning MSP payments and the procurement process. Farmers emphatically stated that the intended MSP benefits were not reaching them directly, often being diverted or reduced due to the involvement of various intermediaries. They also voiced distress over a private sugar mill’s failure to settle outstanding dues, despite a clear court order mandating payment.
Further grievances brought to light included a severe shortage of adequate warehousing facilities, leaving their harvested paddy vulnerable to adverse weather conditions, especially rain. They also pointed out the poor maintenance of irrigation canals and the insufficient number of paddy procurement centers established by the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation. Alarmingly, they alleged that this state corporation was offering growers ₹40 per kilogram less than the Minimum Support Price set by the central government.
Following these interactions, Mr. Sudhakar Reddy, joined by local BJP functionaries such as Tilakavati, Rajashekhar, Rajesh, and Gopal Ram, publicly criticized the DMK government. He accused them of a blatant “failure to protect the interests of the farming community” in the region.