Agitating farmers in India suspend protest for one month

The agitating farmers from the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu Monday suspended their protest for a month on assurances that their demands would be met.

The decision to call off protest demonstration was taken by farmers during a meeting late on Sunday evening at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

"We have decided to suspend our strike until May 25 to allow time government to meet our demands," P Ayyakkannu, the man heading the protesting farmers told media. "This will be a temporary step for we will again hit roads if government fails to deliver."

On Sunday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami met the protesting farmers and assured them he would take up the matter of drought-hit farmers with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Over 100 farmers from Tamil Nadu staged unusual demonstrations during the past 41 days evoking wider attention and sympathy from fellow farmers and political organisations.

From wearing human skulls to eating grass, mice and pieces of snakes, the farmers have been staging mock funerals, tonsuring heads, slashing hands and even stripping naked at Raisina Hill, in a bid to make their voices heard.

Raisina hill is an important location in New Delhi housing India's most important government buildings, including residence of the President of India and Prime Minister's office, besides several other important ministries.

The farmers are demanding waiver of farm loans availed from nationalised banks, drought relief package, better prices for agricultural produce and interlinking of rivers for purpose of irrigation.

Farmers in Tamil Nadu are reeling under severe stress due to two successive years of drought.

In January this year, the local government in Tamil Nadu declared all districts of the state drought-hit following a deficit in the northeast monsoon in 2016.

Reports said over 50 debt-ridden farmers have committed suicide during past six months in drought-affected districts across Tamil Nadu. However, the protesting farmers put the number of farm-related suicides and deaths to more than 300. Endit