A section of protesting sugarcane farmers at Thirumandankudi in Thanjavur district has sought an assurance from the candidates contesting the Mayiladuthurai Lok Sabha Constituency that the issue would be resolved in favour of farmers. These farmers have been on a relay demonstration for over 500 days.
The protesting farmers had supplied cane to the erstwhile defunct private sugar mill at Thirumandankudi. The mill was acquired by a distillery company last year through the National Company Law Tribunal proceedings as the sugar mill management opted for insolvency proceedings.
After the acquisition, the distillery unit management cleared the “outstanding” dues of farmers to a certain extent. But it refused to look into the “debt burden” thrust on farmers by the previous management, which, according to protesting farmers, had fraudulently obtained over ₹400 crore as loan on their behalf in connivance with bank officials.
