Protests in Tamil Nadu support detained farmers in Punjab

Protesters burned an effigy of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann in Mannargudi, Tamil Nadu, on Saturday. They were protesting the recent arrests of farmer leaders, including P.R. Pandian. The farmers were demonstrating at the Shambu border in Punjab to support their demands. The protesters, part of the Tamil Nadu Coordination Committee of All Farmers’ Associations, gathered near the Periyar Statue. They expressed their anger by setting fire to the effigy of Mann, who is the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party. In Tiruchi, P. Ayyakannu, president of the Tamil Nadu unit of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), led another protest outside his residence. He condemned the police actions against farmers at the Punjab-Haryana border. During this protest, demonstrators also burned an effigy of Mann and chanted slogans against the government’s approach. Ayyakannu criticized the arrests of farmer leaders, pointing out that they were involved in discussions with the Union Government about issues like the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and farm loan waivers. In Sirkazhi taluk, farmers held a separate protest, demanding the release of Pandian, who they claim was arrested while on his way to support farmers in Punjab. They also called for protections for those protesting in that region.