Peacock case: Minister defends action on farmers

ERODE: PWD Minister K V Ramalingam on Sunday defended the police action against 300 farmers who staged a stir at Perundurai seeking the release of a farmer who was arrested for killing over 15 peacocks, here on Saturday. Kandasamy of Pattakaranpalayam was detained for allegedly spraying poison on maize crops.Speaking to Express about the strong protest by the KMK, which accused the government of crushing their democratic agitation, Ramalingam asked, “Is it correct to kill peacocks? The farmer was arrested as it was an offence under the Wild Life Conservation Act,” he said. When asked about the farmers’ complaint that the birds damaged crops, he said the Chief Minister had promised suitable compensation to the affected farmers in the election manifesto itself. Bhavani ProjectAbout the concrete lining work in the Lower Bhavani Project main canal, a move opposed by farmers, Ramalingam said that “only a few farmers were opposed to the project.”