Mangaluru, August 5: A protest was staged by the farmers against the Land Acquisition Ordinance, Kumaradhara hydro-power project, Thumbe dam expansion and imposition of cases on loan recovery against the farmers. Led by the Dakshina Kannada district association, the Karnataka state farmers association and the Hasiru Sene organized a massive protest and laid siege to the DC’s office here on Tuesday, August 4th.
Kodihalli Chandrashekhar- Working president of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) and Hasiru Sene; addressing the protesters said, farmers are consuming poison everyday. They are unable to look after their families. Bank officials visit our houses and threaten to auction our properties if we fail to clear the loans. The government should have already arrived at a solution, but they are not speaking about us. We know the DC is very good and has done a lot of work. I trust in him and believe that he would be able to convince the government to solve our problems at the earliest. Farmers do not have life security. Government should provide security to farmers, not free rice, he said.
The Kumaradhara hydro-power project must be stopped immediately. It is going to affect the environment and also the lives of farmers. I have never heard anybody saying that someone died because of no food, because the farmer is struggling to grow rice for everyone. People-friendly law is necessary, requested Chandrashekar.
President of Mangaluru bar association S P Chengappa said, farmers are the ones who provide food for everyone. They are our parents. Every person should join hands to stand up for the rights of farmers. Modi government came to power with lots of promises. But now, PM Modi is very busy travelling to foreign countries. Politicians are living their lives happily sucking the blood of the poor farmers. In the past, there were many better prime ministers who supported farmers, he said.
The farmers attempted to lay siege to the DC office, but the police erected barricades and stopped them from entering inside. They urged that they would meet the DC and submit a memorandum. Later the farmers protested on the road and demanded that DC come at the spot.
Additional DC Sadashiva Prabhu arrived to the spot and listened to their problems. He said, DC Ibrahim had been to inspect the water pipeline work at Kannur. But the protestors were not convinced and demanded that that the DC come to the spot.
Soon, DC Ibrahim returned from Kannur and listened to the farmers’ problems.
A memorandum was submitted to the DC. DC in response assured that he would speak to the state government and try to solve the problems faced by the farmers.
KRRS secretary Subrahmanya Shastry, Dhanakeerthi Balipa, district vice-president of KRRS, B Shreedhar Shetty, working president and many others were present during the protest.
