KANNUR: Thalassery Archdiocese Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany said that from now on, survival was the only politics of the farmer. Inaugurating Karshaka Athijeevana Yatra, Joseph Pamplany said that those ruling the state should keep their word to the people.

"You may have one or two hearts. But you should be ready to pay the Rs 250 for rubber as promised in the manifesto at least from January 1. We will stand with those ruling the state if the state provides Rs 250 as announced in the manifesto We will vote for the BJP if the Centre gives us Rs 300 as we demanded. We will stand with the Congress if they help us. The government should change in such a way to announce that it will pay salaries after providing sufficient money to farmers. Agricultural debts should be written off. The Centre had written off 14.5 lakh crore rupees in the last nine years. Not even a tenth of this is needed to write off the debts of small farmers," he said.

Thamarassery Bishop Mar Remigiose Jose Inchanani said that the cry for survival is coming from the agricultural sector. Global Director Fr. Philip Kaviyil delivered the introductory address.