More than sixty thousand cadres of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) courted arrest for picketing across the state condemning the anti-people policies of the state and central governments on February 7.

The protesters demanded compensation of Rs 10 lakhs to the families of farmers who had committed suicide due to drought in the Cauvery Delta. They also demanded compensation of Rs 25,000 per acre for paddy, Rs 50,000 per acre for banana, plantains and Rs 75,000 per acre for sugar cane farmers as drought relief. A demand was also made to provide compensation of Rs 15,000 per family for agricultural workers.

Slamming demonetisation and the insistence on cashless transactions, the CPI(M) also demanded compensation for those who had collapsed waiting outside banks post-demonetisation. They also challenged the insistence of Aadhaar card for transactions.

The protesters demanded a judicial inquiry into the police assaults on pro-Jallikattu protesters across the state and withdrawal of cases against them.

Protests were held at 303 centres across the state including Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Salem, Erode, Dindigul, Tirunelveli, Thanjavur, Thoothukudi, Tiruppur and Villupuram.

In Tirunelveli district, nearly 5,000 CPI(M) cadre were arrested when they attempted to block traffic at 17 places. Here thousands of women form semi-urban areas participated in the protest, with the demand to extend the MNREGA to panchayat areas.

In the agitation held in front of the Indian Bank at Nagercoil, the headquarters of Kanyakumari district, Polit Bureau member and state secretary of the Party, G Ramakrishnan, former MP, AV Bellarmine, and former MLA, Leema Rose participated.

In Tiruchi City, led by the Party’s senior leader and Central Committee member K Varadarajan, nearly 500 were arrested after they attempted to picket the Tiruchi East taluk office.

In the neighbouring Thanjavur district, the centre of Cauvery Delta and Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur districts picketing programme was held at nearly 50 places with a huge participation of farmers and agricultural workers.

Don't delay floor test: CPI(M)
Tamil Nadu state secretariat of the CPI(M) discussed the prevailing situation of the political turmoil in the state due to the internal fight in the ruling AIADMK and issued a statement on February 10.

Party state secretary G Ramakrishnan said in the statement that though electing the chief ministerial candidate was the prerogative of the AIADMK, the haste displayed by Sasikala had raised many questions. “When the Supreme Court’s verdict in the disproportionate wealth case, in which she is an accused, is expected anytime, her hurry is against political ethics. She has never held a position in the party and in government. Her attempt to occupy both the seats in a short span of time looks completely unnatural,” Ramakrishnan charged.

He stated that even though Chief Minister Panneerselvam had levelled many allegations against Sasikala, his past actions were not above suspicion either. “He is responsible for the violence against the pro-Jallikattu protesters and he has remained indifferent to the problems of farmers. He is now in the race for power,” Ramakrishnan alleged.

Accusing the BJP of fishing in troubled waters, he alleged that after the death of Jayalalithaa, the BJP had been trying to find a foothold in Tamil Nadu. “On the one hand, it has betrayed the interests of Tamil Nadu, and on the other, it is seeking to introduce its communal agenda here,” he charged.

G Ramakrishnan said the stance of Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao was highly condemnable as he had failed to be available in the state when it was facing a political crisis. “The Governor should arrange for a floor test without any delay now,” he said.