Chennai, Apr 17 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin today announced a solatium of Rs five lakh to the family of a farmer, who had committed suicide two days back in protest against the GAIL pipeline project in Dharmapuri district, while assuring the farmers that ruling DMK would always remain as their friend in need. In a statement here, he expressed anguish and grief over the death of the farmer and announced the solatium from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund. He said the DMK government, which was following in the footsteps of former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, would remain the farmers’ “friend in need.” The locals had been protesting against the project for the last two days demanding justice to the farmer’s family and wanted the government to take steps to shelve the project. The Opposition AIADMK urged the Chief Minister to urge the Centre to ensure that pipeline to the project should be laid only on highways. GV 1655