This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.
Newsagriculturetamil nadu

PHOTOS: Heart-Breaking Pictures From The Month-Long Protest By Tamil Nadu Farmers In Delhi

Human skulls, dead snakes, cross-dressing and much more.
By 

News Producer, HuffPost India

A month into protests by farmers from Tamil Nadu in New Delhi, the Supreme Court said on Thursday that the Centre cannot leave the poverty-struck agriculturalists to their fate.

The farmers have been demanding a drought relief package of ₹40,000 crore, a farm-loan waiver, and setting up of a Cauvery Management Board by the Centre.

They have been protesting at Jantar Mantar in Delhi since 14 March, resorting to extreme, attention-grabbing methods such as stripping outside the Prime Minister's Office, symbolically cremating themselves, cross-dressing and holding dead snakes in their mouths.

Here are some heart-rending photos of their desperate struggle that has grabbed the nation's attention.

Hindustan Times via Getty Images
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
Tamil Nadu farmer pretending to eat grass during a protest at Jantar Mantar.
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
Tamil Nadu farmer pretending to eat grass during a protest at Jantar Mantar.
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
Farmers from Tamil Nadu have been protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi for almost four weeks now, demanding the waiver of their loans.
Barcroft Media via Getty Images
Over three lakh farmers have committed suicide in India since 1995. These suicides have largely been attributed to debt, drought, crop failure or poor returns.
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
The farmers have been using symbolic props such as ropes tied as noose, begging bowls during the protest.
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
Many of the farmers shaved half of their heads as a sign of protest.
The India Today Group via Getty Images
The skull they used during the protest reportedly symbolised the deaths of their fellow farmers who died apparently due to severe drought in the state.
Bloomberg via Getty Images
They used ropes to 'hang' themselves in front of the national media.
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
Many of the farmers also performed their own symbolic 'cremations', reiterating the fact that if the situation in the state continued, they'd have no choice but to die.
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
They even held live mice in their mouths to demonstrate that they will have to feed on them if the government fails to declare drought relief packages and waiver loans for the farmers in Tamil Nadu.
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
The farmers even enacted eating a snake as a form of protest.
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
Barcroft Media via Getty Images
Barcroft Media via Getty Images
On 14 April, farmers were seen cross-dressed as women during a month long protest at Jantar Mantar.

Related

agriculturenewstamil nadu
Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.