Easan Murugasamy, founder of the Tamil Nadu Farmers Protection Association, on Saturday (May 30, 2026) alleged that Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay had misled farmers across the State by promising a farm loan waiver but failing to provide meaningful relief.Speaking to reporters after a consultative meeting of the association’s office-bearers from Erode, Tiruppur and Namakkal districts at Modakkurichi, Mr. Murugasamy also opposed the proposed high-voltage transmission tower project to be taken up between Tiruppur and Kallakurichi through the State’s power transmission network. He said farmers had been demanding that such transmission lines be laid through underground cables along roadsides and claimed that progress had been made on the issue. Despite recommendations favouring cable-based transmission, the authorities were proceeding with the erection of high-voltage towers, he alleged. According to him, the project would affect the value of agricultural lands and adversely impact farmers’ livelihoods.Criticising the State government’s farm loan waiver scheme, Mr. Murugasamy said farmers had been led to expect comprehensive relief. He contended that farm loans accounted for only about one-third of the State’s agriculture budget and could therefore be waived in full. He further alleged that the government had formulated the scheme without consulting farmers and demanded that it be withdrawn. Describing the move as unfair to the farming community, he urged the government to fulfill the assurances given to farmers during the election campaign. Published - May 30, 2026 06:43 pm IST