At Parandur, Vijay accuses DMK of 'staging drama' over farmers' issues
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay on Monday, January 20, 2025, met villagers protesting against the proposed Chennai second airport at Parandur in Kancheepuram district, and accused the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) of taking contradictory stands on farmers' issues.
Addressing a gathering at an open ground on the premises of a private wedding resort, the actor-politician said the DMK was "a master at staging drama." He alleged that the party had been inconsistent in its approach to concerns of the agrarian community. However, he did not cite specific instances of the contradictions he referred to during his speech.
The meeting was held for the residents of 13 villages, including Parandur, Ekanapuram, Nelvoy, Valathur, Madapuram, and Akkammapuram. These villages have been at the centre of a prolonged protest against the acquisition of farmlands for the proposed airport, which is planned to be located about 70 km from Chennai. The agitation has been going on for more than 900 days. The 900-day milestone underscores the sustained nature of the resistance.
The proposed airport is envisaged as a second airport for the city of Chennai, with the existing airport projected to reach saturation in the coming years. However, the project involves acquiring significant stretches of agricultural land, which has become a major point of contention. Local farmers argue that the acquisition would deprive them of their primary source of livelihood and adversely affect food production in the region. The issue has drawn attention from across the state, becoming a key talking point in political circles.
Mr. Vijay, who entered electoral politics less than a year ago, has been leading the TVK's efforts to build a political base. His visit to Parandur is seen as an attempt to connect with rural voters and to highlight issues that have not been adequately addressed by the state government. The party has been organising outreach programmes across Tamil Nadu, and the protest site offered a platform to voice support for the affected community. Vijay's outreach is part of a series of public meetings he has held in different parts of Tamil Nadu.
The event took place at an open ground on the premises of a private wedding resort in the area. Residents from the 13 villages attended the meeting, which was arranged by local organisers. Vijay addressed the gathering in Tamil and listened to the grievances of the villagers.
The DMK, which heads the state government, had not issued a formal response to Mr. Vijay's remarks at the time of filing this report. The government has maintained that the airport project is essential for the region's long-term infrastructure needs and has assured that compensation will be provided to landowners. Farmers maintain that the compensation offered is inadequate compared to the long-term value of their land. But the protesters have continued to press for a complete review of the project, insisting that the chosen site is unsuitable due to its agricultural significance.
The Parandur issue is expected to remain a politically significant one, given the intersection of land rights, infrastructure development, and electoral politics. For the TVK, the visit underlines its strategy of engaging with popular movements and local concerns as it seeks to establish itself as a significant player in Tamil Nadu's political landscape. The outcome of the Parandur agitation may have a bearing on the upcoming political alignments in the state.
