CHENNAI, Sept. 3 -- Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay on Wednesday announced that cases registered by the previous government against farmers and teachers will be withdrawn, asserting this would further strengthen democratic rights and deepen the trust between the ordinary people and the government, even as the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) downplayed the significance of the move claiming it was standard administrative practice. Addressing the state assembly, the chief minister said: "This government will stand as a pillar of support for farmers and teachers (who took part in peaceful protests) and to their legitimate demands. This action will further strengthen democratic rights and reinforce trust between the common people and the government." "Our government, which respects democratic rights, has decided on humanitarian grounds and on the basis of democratic principles to withdraw all cases registered by the previous governments against farmers and teachers when they protested peacefully for their demands," he said. The CM said several cases were registered between May 2021 and April 2026 against farmers and teachers who protested for their livelihood, rights and social welfare demands. Vijay further attacked the DMK, saying that people who voiced their concerns through democratic means are still subjected to hardship due to the cases filed against them during DMK tenure. DMK leader TKS Elangovan noted that previous administrations have routinely taken similar steps. "When they were naturally fighting for their rights, we (DMK government) had also earlier cancelled many cases, withdrawn many cases against people who had fought for their cause," Elangovan said....