Udhayanidhi Stalin questions MLA cars as farmers await loan relief

Thanjavur, August 23

Tamil Nadu Opposition Leader and DMK Youth Wing secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin on Sunday criticised the State government for proposing to provide cars to legislators while citing a shortage of funds to waive farmers’ crop loans.

Addressing a wedding gathering at Pattukkottai in Thanjavur district, Udhayanidhi accused the government of prioritising benefits for elected representatives while failing to address the financial distress faced by farmers.

He said he had visited Thanjavur four times during the past three months, including three visits in the last two weeks. Even when he did not schedule a visit, the government brought him back to the district by arresting him, he remarked.

Referring to a farmers’ protest organised by the DMK in Thanjavur on August 3, Udhayanidhi said the demonstration was held to press for adequate Cauvery water and other relief measures for the farming community.

He said he had addressed the gathering for about 22 minutes, criticising the Chief Minister and highlighting the government’s alleged failure to fulfil its election promises. However, the authorities appeared to have objected particularly to his remarks about the shortage of Cauvery water, he alleged.

According to Udhayanidhi, police personnel travelled from Thanjavur to his residence overnight and arrested him in the early hours following the protest. He maintained that repeated arrests and police action would not deter him from raising issues affecting farmers.

Udhayanidhi also remarked that politicians had to exercise particular caution while speaking in Thanjavur, as comments made at public gatherings could invite cases or arrests. Nevertheless, he said he was prepared to take responsibility for his statements.

Questioning the government’s spending priorities, he asked how funds could be found to provide cars to MLAs when the administration claimed that it could not afford to waive crop loans.

He said the DMK would continue raising concerns over Cauvery water, agricultural debt and unfulfilled election promises despite government action.