Sugarcane farmers from Thanjavur district staged a black-flag protest on Wednesday against Chief Minister MK Stalin, alleging failure to ensure the disbursal of long-pending dues by the Thiru Arooran Sugar Factory. The protest took place near the Vembakudi toll plaza when the Chief Minister was travelling to Kumbakonam to participate in an Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) conference.
According to sources, the farmers have been protesting since 30 November 2022, demanding the release of pending payments with interest from the Tirumandangudi-based Thiru Arooran Sugar Mill. As the farmers attempted to wave black flags at the Chief Minister’s convoy, police personnel on duty detained and arrested them.
Reacting to the arrests, PR Pandian, president of the Coordination Committee of All Farmers Associations, said that the farmers had been fighting for their rights for the past three years. He stated that they were facing severe hardship after banks recovered loans taken by the sugar factory in the farmers’ names, resulting in poor CIBIL scores and denial of crop loans. He added that the Chief Minister should take steps to resolve the issue and ensure the immediate release of the arrested farmers.
BJP leader K Annamalai also condemned the arrests in a post on X. He wrote, “I strongly condemn the DMK government for resorting to repression and arresting sugarcane farmers who staged a black-flag protest today near the Vembakudi toll plaza in Thanjavur district against the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister during his visit to Kumbakonam. The protest was to urge the fulfillment of Thanjavur district election promise No. 57, which includes waiving fraudulent bank loans taken in the names of farmers by a private sugar mill, immediately paying the arrears due to farmers, and having the government take over and run the sugar mill. Why is Chief Minister Mr. @mkstalin, who has conferred upon himself the title of “Delta farmer,” showing no concern or thought for farmers? By failing to fulfill election promises such as increasing the Minimum Support Price for paddy and sugarcane, and by invoking the Goondas Act against farmers in Tiruvannamalai district who fought to protect their lands, the DMK government has betrayed farmers throughout these 60 months. Even as its term nears its end, the government continues on the same path. Immediate steps must be taken to fulfill all the key demands of farmers who have been protesting continuously for over a thousand days to have their demands met. Further, I urge the DMK government to release all the arrested farmers and to ensure that no cases are pursued against them in connection with this issue.”
தஞ்சாவூர் மாவட்டத்தில், தனியார் சர்க்கரை ஆலையில், விவசாயிகள் பெயரில் மோசடியாக வாங்கிய வங்கி கடனை தள்ளுபடி செய்ய வேண்டும், விவசாயிகளுக்கு வழங்க வேண்டிய நிலுவைத் தொகையை உடனடியாக வழங்க வேண்டும், ஆலை நிர்வாகத்தை அரசே ஏற்று நடத்த வேண்டும் போன்ற தஞ்சாவூர் மாவட்டத்திற்கான தேர்தல்… pic.twitter.com/GXp4k8u2E2
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) January 28, 2026
Source: DTNext
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
