Tiruchirappalli, Sept. 18 -- More than 1,000 farmers from various districts of Tamil Nadu staged a novel protest near Samayapuram in Tiruchirappalli on Friday, demanding the complete and unconditional waiver of crop loans obtained through cooperative societies.

The farmers, who have been staging a continuous sit-in protest for the fourth consecutive day, wore flowers behind their ears and blew whistles as part of their protest, symbolically conveying their allegation that the government was "putting flowers in their ears" instead of fulfilling its assurances.

More than 40 farmers' associations from across Tamil Nadu, along with their leaders, office-bearers and members, are participating in the agitation. The protesters have gathered un...