The opposition DMK has made a significant correction in the manifesto for 18 April elections and promised that crop loans availed by all farmers would be completely waived. Stalin, while releasing the manifesto Tuesday, had said all types of crop loans availed by small and marginal farmers would be waived.
Announcing a correction to it, a DMK release said in deference to the wishes expressed by the farmers and accepting the request of the alliance party leaders, the DMK promised that the crop loans of all the farmers would be completely waived. Stalin on Wednesday promised that his party, when voted to power, would write off crop loans of all farmers, and not restrict the waiver to small and marginal farmers as proposed in the party manifesto for the Assembly bypoll.
"Soon after the manifesto was released, a few leaders of alliance parties, including CPI State secretary R. Mutharasan, and farmers felt that the loan waiver should be extended to all farmers. I instructed the committee, which prepared the manifesto, to immediately effect the change," he said. Stalin sought votes for DMK candidate Poondi Kalaivanan, for the by-election in Tiruvarur constituency. The seat fell vacant after the death of M Karunanidhi and CPI's Lok Sabha candidate from Nagapattinam constituency.
He slammed Prime Minister Modi for what he called his "fascist rule" using lies to come to power. "Did he fulfill at least one of his promises? Did he bring back black money or provide the two crore jobs that he assured?" he asked.
