In a dramatic turn of events, sugarcane farmers in Thanjavur district were arrested today after staging a protest against the DMK government’s inaction over their demands for unpaid dues from a private sugar mill. The protest, which involved displaying black flags against Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, has sparked widespread condemnation from political leaders, including BJP state president K. Annamalai.
The farmers, who have been agitating for over a year and a half, sought the release of pending payments for their sugarcane supplies during the 2020-21 crushing season. Despite their prolonged struggle, the DMK-led state government has been accused of remaining indifferent to their plight. The situation escalated when the farmers decided to escalate their protest by showing black flags to the Chief Minister, leading to their immediate arrest by the police.
K. Annamalai, in a strongly worded statement on social media, criticized the DMK government’s handling of the issue. He highlighted the farmers’ frustration, noting that they have been demanding the minimum support price for paddy and sugarcane, promises made during the last elections but never fulfilled. Annamalai also pointed out the irony of the government’s actions, especially in light of the Goondas Act imposed on farmers in Tiruvannamalai who were fighting to protect their lands.
“Isn’t the betrayal of farmers in the last four years, such as increasing the minimum support price for paddy and sugarcane, deceiving farmers by making false election promises, and imposing the Goondas Act on farmers in Tiruvannamalai district who fought to protect their lands, enough? Are you showing your oppression to the farmers who have been fighting for one and a half years demanding payment of arrears? In the last four years, your claim of being a son of the soil of Delta region stands exposed”, Annamalai’s statement read.
தஞ்சாவூர் மாவட்டத்தில், தனியார் சர்க்கரை ஆலையில், கரும்பு கொள்முதலுக்கான நிலுவைத் தொகையை வழங்கக் கோரி, கடந்த ஒன்றரை ஆண்டுகளாக விவசாயிகள் போராட்டம் நடத்தி வந்த நிலையில், திமுக அரசு எந்தவித நடவடிக்கையும் எடுக்காமல் பாராமுகமாக இருப்பதைக் கண்டித்து, முதலமைச்சர் திரு @mkstalin… pic.twitter.com/YVtTTL5U8c
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) June 16, 2025
The arrests have reignited debates about the state government’s approach to farmer welfare. Over the past four years, the DMK has faced criticism for series of betrayals against the farming community, including unfulfilled electoral promises and heavy-handed responses to peaceful protests.
Local farmer leaders expressed their dismay, stating that the government’s response was not only unjust but also a clear indication of its disconnect from the ground realities faced by the agricultural sector. “We have been fighting for our rights for over a year and a half. Instead of addressing our grievances, the government chooses to silence us with arrests,” said one of the protesting farmers before being taken into custody.
The incident has also drawn attention to the broader issues plaguing Tamil Nadu’s agricultural sector, including water scarcity, inadequate compensation for crop losses, and the lack of support for small-scale farmers. The arrests have been seen as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by the farming community under the current administration.
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