400க்கும் மேற்பட்ட விவசாயிகள் மற்றும் விவசாயத் தொழிலாளர்கள் தமிழகத்தில் தற்கொலை செய்து கொண்டிருப்பதற்கு ஆழ்ந்த இரங்கல்கள் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டது

DMK working president M.K. Stalin expressed profound grief and deepest condolences on April 16, 2017, over the tragic loss of more than 400 farmers and agricultural laborers who had died or committed suicide due to severe drought across Tamil Nadu. During the all-party leaders' meeting, Stalin observed a solemn tribute to the deceased cultivators, affirming that the tragedy had shaken the conscience of the entire state. He condemned the government's refusal to acknowledge these deaths with administrative compassion.

Stalin pointed out that these untimely deaths were the direct result of unendurable agrarian distress, failed rains, dried irrigation channels, and relentless pressure from recovery agents. Instead of extending compassionate financial assistance and debt relief, the state administration had sought to minimize the tragedy by denying any link between drought and farmer deaths in official court filings. He characterized this bureaucratic denial as an unforgivable insult to families who had lost their sole breadwinners while producing food for the nation.

The opposition leader declared that the DMK would continue to champion the rights of grieving farm families. Stalin demanded immediate substantial ex-gratia compensation and comprehensive rehabilitation packages for every bereaved household.