R. ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, AUGUST 6
A day after the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Government unveiled its maiden Agriculture Budget with a strong emphasis on technology-driven farming, the political temperature inside the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly soared on Thursday as Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin dismissed the Budget as “absolutely nothing”, accusing the government of reneging on its promises to farmers and remaining silent on the Cauvery-Mekedatu dispute.
The Opposition’s attack came amid a coordinated protest by DMK legislators, who entered the Assembly wearing black shirts to express solidarity with farmers and to protest what they termed the government’s failure to fulfil crop loan waiver commitments and protect Tamil Nadu’s interests in the long-standing Cauvery water dispute.
- Leader of Opposition dismisses Agriculture Budget as a ‘repackaging exercise’, alleging betrayal of poll promises to farmers
- DMK MLAs wear black shirts in Assembly, demanding complete crop loan waiver and united stand on Mekedatu-Cauvery dispute
- Questions Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s silence over all-party meeting on Karnataka’s Mekedatu project and Cauvery water release
- Adjournment motion moved to debate worsening agrarian distress and interstate river water issues
- Opposition vows to intensify support for farmers amid mounting concerns over irrigation, crop loans and water security
Addressing reporters outside the Assembly, Udhayanidhi Stalin delivered a blunt assessment of the Agriculture Budget.
“Absolutely nothing.”
He alleged that the government had merely repackaged existing schemes instead of announcing meaningful measures to address the challenges confronting the farming community.
Targeting the government’s handling of the interstate river water issue, Udhayanidhi reiterated the DMK’s demand for an all-party meeting.
“We have been consistently calling for an all-party meeting on the Cauvery and Mekedatu issues. We need to demonstrate that all political parties in Tamil Nadu stand united on this front. But as usual, the Chief Minister remains silent and refuses to respond.”
The Opposition leader accused the government of failing to honour one of its major electoral commitments relating to farm loans.
According to him, the TVK had promised a complete crop loan waiver for farmers owning up to five acres, but later announced waiver ceilings of ₹50,000, which was subsequently enhanced to ₹75,000 following sustained pressure from farmers.
He maintained that farmers continue to demand the full waiver originally promised during the election campaign.
On the Cauvery water-sharing issue, Udhayanidhi alleged that Karnataka had not released Tamil Nadu’s due share of water, aggravating the distress of farmers dependent on Cauvery irrigation.
He also referred to the continuing controversy surrounding the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir project, asserting that Tamil Nadu must present a united political voice to safeguard its water rights.
Seeking an extensive discussion in the House, DMK legislators submitted an adjournment motion to the Assembly Speaker immediately after Question Hour.
“We believe that the Speaker would give opportunity to us to speak,” Udhayanidhi said.
Explaining the significance of the black-shirt protest, he remarked:
“Farmers have been suffering for the past three months and are conducting continuous agitations. We wore black shirts today in solidarity with them. The DMK will always stand by our farmers.”
He also challenged Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to respond to the Opposition’s concerns during the Assembly proceedings.
The protest assumes significance against the backdrop of renewed concerns over Tamil Nadu’s water security, the proposed Mekedatu project in Karnataka and persistent demands from farmer organisations for comprehensive financial relief, timely release of irrigation water and stronger policy interventions to safeguard agricultural livelihoods.
The TVK Government, meanwhile, has defended its maiden Agriculture Budget as a forward-looking roadmap centred on technology adoption, precision farming, women empowerment, mechanisation and climate-resilient agriculture, including the launch of the ‘Vetri Vaanmagal’ initiative to train women as certified agricultural drone pilots. However, the Opposition maintained that the Budget fell short of addressing the immediate economic challenges confronting the State’s farming community.
