Farmers Movement Archive

Karnataka farmers protest central, state policies

Bengaluru: Thousands of farmers converged on main highways and roads in Bengaluru and other key cities and towns on Friday, protesting against farm-related bills of the central and state governments. The demonstrations are part of a nation-wide stir call against what many organisations says are anti-farmer policies. The support for the call has varied because of a lack of agreement between various organisations. On Friday, large contingents of police personnel were deployed at many places to prevent complete blockade of key routes. Hundreds of farmers courted arrest and were taken away in buses. Protesters partly blocked entry-exit points on Tumakuru Road, Hosur Road, Old Madras Road and Mysuru Road. Demonstrations were also reported in Mysuru and Davangere. “Our members protested and blocked major entry points to Bengaluru and other cities to drive home the point that the central government’s bills are against the interests of farmers,” said Kuruburu Shantakumar, a representative of farmers. But police officials said traffic was not severely affected. Kodihalli Chandrashekhar, who represents another farmers’ group, said they didn’t support Friday’s agitation. “We are focusing on next week’s Karnataka bandh,” he said. Several farmers’ organisations have called for a state-wide shutdown on September 28 to demand withdrawal of amendments made to the Karnataka Land Reforms Act and Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee Act and central farm bills. The state government plans to get the land reforms bill passed in the ongoing session of the assembly. The amendments will reduce restrictions on the sale of farmland. Until now, only agriculturalists were allowed to buy farmland. CM’s outreach fails to break impasse Farmers’ associations said on Friday they would go ahead with the September 28 protest after their meeting with chief minister BS Yediyurappa in Bengaluru failed to produce a resolution. Yeddyurappa had invited farmers’ representatives and experts to discuss amendments to land reforms, APMC and labour acts. The representatives urged him to withdraw the amendments, saying they will hurt farmers and labour classes. They also asked him to oppose the central government’s farm bills. Yediyurappa defended the amendments, saying they were aimed at doubling the income of farmers and helping industries. He offered to make changes in the cap on farmland a family can own. The amendments seek to raise the cap from 54 acres to 108 acres for a family of four and 108 acres to 216 acres for a larger family. Farmers have opposed this. “The government did not offer a convincing reply to our concerns. Even our demand of deferring the amendments to next session was rejected, so we have decided to intensify our protest,” said agriculture expert Prakash Kammaradi.

The Times of India

2020-09-26

Bengaluru