Members of the Coimbatore chapter of Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) today, hosted a signature campaign in multiple colleges across our city to show their support to the farmers. Abdul Arif, Secretary of Coimbatore Chapter of SIO, lead this campaign.
SIO members hosted their campaigns at Kongunadu Arts and Science College, Coimbatore and Government Arts College Coimbatore, as a part of showing their solidarity towards farmers and their respect towards agriculture. Thousands of students participated in the signature campaign.
Flex boards denoting the current distressful situation of the farmers were printed and placed at the college premise. Students from the colleges signed the boards and showed their support for the people of the farming community.
When speaking to the press, Arif said, “India is an agricultural country. A majority of the people in India are farmers. Villages and farmers are undeniably the back bone of our Indian economy. Presently, agriculture in Tamil Nadu is in a pathetic state as farmer suicides have increased in recent times. The state of Tamil Nadu, it's people and culture have a long traditional background.
Pongal and Jallikattu are important cultural identities of Tamil culture. The BJP government at the centre is trying to destroy the native cattle breeds of Tamil Nadu by banning Jallikattu. Shortly, BJP also tried to remove Pongal from the official holiday list. The ventral government is trying to impose a unified cultural identity, which is unacceptable as all states and people have their own regional identities. We have organised this campaign to show that students care for the farmers and we will stand up for them'
Muhammed Asiq, Educational Institutions Secretary of the SIO said, “The state central governments should rehabilitate the farmers and also should pay heed to the farmers problems and then derive at concrete solutions to their long-standing problems. As drought has struck Tamil Nadu, the government should find ways to ensure supply of water to agricultural lands. Government not paying heed to this issue will lead to revolution by the people'.
