Bengaluru: Farmers protest causes traffic chaos in State Capital

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Bengaluru,(PTI): Hundreds of farmers blocked the road leading to the airport and disrupted traffic as they sought solution to their water woes in two parched districts, prompting police to resort to baton charge.

The farmers from Chikkaballapur and Kolar districts were enraged as police tried to prevent their entry into the city on the airport road with a ban on entry of tractors and lorry and prohibitory orders in place.

The protest to lay “siege” to Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat, where the legislature is in session, was organised by farmers’ bodies demanding permanent irrigation facilities in the two districts.

Breaking through barricades, the farmers came into the city in tractors and on two wheelers as police tried in vain to block them near the Chief Minister’s residence from proceeding towards Vidhana Soudha.

Police then resorted to baton charge to disperse the crowd, as a result of which a large number of vehicles in which farmers had come were left on the road, making the situation worse and adding to traffic chaos.

Several farmers including Kodihalli Chandrashekar, president of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (Hasiru Sena), a farmers body which is in the forefront of the stir, were taken into custody by police.

The protest march resulted in a huge traffic pileup on the road leading to Kempegowda International Airport causing inconvenience to commuters, who waited for hours.
Some vehicles, including city transport buses, were also damaged during the protest, police said.

Expressing his anger against the government and political parties, a farmer said “assembly is in session we wanted to ask them about why they have not been able to solve our problem, but they are asking police to beat us up and send back.

“The session is to discuss and solve our issues. When we are dying without water there they are discussing diamond watch (controversy involving a luxury watch gifted to Chief Minister).”

Farmers have also demanded the immediate release of their leaders.


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2 Comments

  1. Dear readers,

    Is the PM Modi’s government finally saying sorry to farmers and rural India? Yes, if you go by the slew of Budget announcements for the benefit of both.

    For nearly two years, both were a marginal presence in the government’s grand plan for the country’s economic revival. While all its talk revolved around headline-grabbing big ticket investments, multi-billion dollar projects and making India an attractive destination for global money, the farmers suffered in silence. The government was throwing platitudes but hardly looked serious about them.

    The big takeaway from the budget is the apparent shift in the government’s attitude. Perhaps it has learnt its lesson. It realises that it cannot be arrogant and dismissive of rural India and, at a more general level, cannot have a economic worldview that is perceived to be anti-people.

    At least ten farmers have killed themselves every day, on average, for a straight ten years in the rich state of Maharashtra. Nation-wide the farm suicides total nears the 300,000-mark, as the data of the National Crime Records Bureau show.

    Maharashtra crosses 60,000 farm suicides
    https://ruralindiaonline.org/articles/maharashtra-crosses-60000-farm-suicides/

    With 2,016 reported cases of farmers committing suicide till the end of September, the current year has earned the dubious distinction of seeing the highest number of farmer suicides in the past five years.

    http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/pune-2016-farmer-suicides-in-the-state-till-sept-the-highest-in-last-five-years/#sthash.dut2rBkZ.dpuf

    The careful selection of venue as Belgaum in Karnataka,to address the needs of farmers and tell them about Prime Minister Fasal Bima Yojana seems like BJP wanted pit farmers against ruling state congress.

    Mr Modi is offering financial assistance to Mongolia, aid to Africa. This is a government that is both at the center and state but unable to provide assistance to poor farmers.They gave agrarian reason for ‘beef ban’ in BJP ruled state and took ‘pink revolution’ to highest exporter in the world. While ‘Gow mata’ is continued to serve the dinnings around the world,farmers are ending life consuming ‘pesticide’ BJP MP Gopal Shetty has attributed farmers’ suicides to a “fashion” and “trend” to end lives.
    http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/bjp-mp-says-it-s-fashionable-for-farmers-to-commit-suicide-sparks-row/story-FQwtcn4Pq3Ro9IDiCFp5OI.html

    How does deficit of rainfall will cover the farmers by this insurance proportionate to the land tilled by the farmers?
    If there is a bumper crop,how does the farmers ensured of his return to his investment and efforts?
    Does government will be able to provide stabilized price formula?

    As we all know how insurance schemes are working.The claimant can be only possible after the loss.But in this government is failed to address the loss first.Prevention is better than cure.Modi government has emphasis to cover the losses not prevention.

    Finally why BJP has not selected Maharashtra has venue to launch insurance scheme? Is this agitation is something to do with politics using farmers to target after wrist watch controversy?

    Jai Hind

  2. “The farmers from Chikkaballapur and Kolar districts ….” – Report

    I would be very worried to step into some of these areas. Very different culture and priorities!! By the way, historically these areas are strong bases of ‘appa-maga’ and ’44 seats’ party!! smiles…

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