Stalin’s claim about paddy procurement in four years is a white lie, says Palaniswami

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s assertion that the DMK government had procured an mean of 42.61 lakh metric tonnes of paddy a twelvemonth successful the past 4 years is thing but a “white lie”, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami said connected Thursday (October 30, 2025).

Talking to reporters in Madurai, Mr. Palaniswami said that according to the Policy Note of the Department of Food, paddy procurement was 29.42 lakh tonnes successful 2022-23; 29.45 lakh tonnes successful 2023-24; 28.26 lakh tonnes successful 2024-25; and 28.30 lakh tonnes successful 2025-26. “While the full paddy procurement nether the DMK government was lone 1.15 crore metric tonnes [in the past 4 years], however could person the authorities made an mean yearly procurement of 42.61 lakh tonnes. It is simply a achromatic lie. That this is simply a ‘propaganda model’ authorities is hereby proved,” helium said.

Mr. Palaniswami wondered which connection of the authorities — the argumentation enactment oregon that of the Chief Minister — was true. “The Chief Minister should clarify,” helium said.

The Leader of the Opposition said helium had highlighted the plight of Cauvery delta farmers successful the Assembly connected October 17. However, Minister for Food R. Sakkarapani said each nonstop procurement centre was buying 2,000 bags of paddy each day, including connected Sundays. “Had specified an enactment been taken, each the bags recovered dumped connected the roadsides would person been procured,” helium said. 

During his inspection of procurement centres successful the Cauvery delta districts connected October 21, farmers told him that nary acquisition had been made successful 15 days, and lone 600 bags were procured. “The procurement centres did not person capable jute bags, load-men, and trucks for transport,” helium said. This led to paddy bags being dumped connected the roadsides and extracurricular the procurement centres. The paddy started germinating aft getting drenched successful the rain. The farmers were progressive successful nutrient production, but the authorities had failed to bargain their produce, helium said.

Wetland protected

Under AIADMK rule, the Pallikaranai marsh was protected with a money of ₹165.68 crore from the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change. “The National Green Tribunal had ordered assistance of support for operation 1 km distant from the bound of the wetland. But nary support was granted for operation precise adjacent to the wetland,” Mr. Palaniswami said.