The AIADMK staged a protest near the Red Cross in Coimbatore city on Friday opposing Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu dam across the Cauvery and demanding complete waiver of crop loans taken by farmers in Tamil Nadu.The protesters demanded that the Tamil Nadu government convene an all-party meeting on the Mekedatu issue and take steps to protect the State’s share of Cauvery water. They also demanded complete waiver of crop loans for farmers and urged the government to fulfil its election promises to the farming community.They also recalled the promise of providing an annual assistance of ₹15,000 to tenant farmers and agricultural workers through an agricultural labour card and bearing the higher education expenses of children of farmers.They accused the TVK government of failing to fulfil these promises and alleged that it was not paying adequate attention to farmers’ issues, the Cauvery dispute and the law and order situation in the State.The protest was led by former Minister Pollachi V. Jayaraman, AIADMK central district secretary S. M. Velusamy, city district secretary Amman K. Arjunan, North district secretary P.R.G. Arun Kumar, former MLA K.R. Jayaraman and other party functionaries and cadre participated. Published - August 14, 2026 10:19 pm IST