THOUSANDS of tobacco farmers from across Prakasam district brought Ongole to a virtual standstill on Friday, June 19, as they staged one of the largest protests by tobacco growers in South India. Organised under the banner of various farmers’ unions with support from the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, Left parties, CITU, and agricultural workers’ organisations, the rally saw hundreds of tractors and nearly 1,000 motorcycles choke the city’s major roads for several hours.