D Raja (CPI) said agriculture in the country was in "deep

crisis" and the farmers were passing through unprecedented distress.

When the government was waiving loans of other sectors, why can't it do the same for farmers, he asked.

T K Rangarajan (CPI-M) said Tamil Nadu has no drinking water and cattle-feed and supported the demand for crop loan waiver.

Sitaram Yechury (also CPI-M) said Tamil Nadu farmers were being "forced to eat mice and rats."

"You can waive NPAs of rich corporates, but you can't waive loan of farmers which is only a fraction of loans waived of for corporates," he said.

Raja also raised the issue of Tamil Nadu farmers agitating against contract being award for oil and gas exploration in Neduvasal village saying as they fear ground water will be depleted because of such drilling.

Sitharaman termed the signing of exploration contract with a private company as "mere MoU signing" and state government has to take certain steps before the project actually starts.

She said hydrocarbon exploration will be taken up only after addressing the concerns of local people.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)