Karnataka farmers protest against anti-farmer amendments, block roads

Stating the government's farmer amendments as 'anti-farmer', the farmers of Karnataka staged a protest and demanded its immediate rollout. The farmers sat on a dharna and shouted slogans against the government which led to huge traffic jam.

Bengaluru: The commencement of Karnataka assembly session witnessed thousands of farmers protesting against the state government's proposed amendment to the Land Reforms Act, Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act and Electricity Act in the ongoing monsoon session of the state legislature. This comes after two farm bills Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020- were passed in the Rajya Sabha amid ruckus and huge protests by the opposition parties.

The agitated farmers took out a protest rally from Krantiveera Sangoli Rayanna Railway station to Vidhana Soudha. Farmers from other states also joined the protest and they were stopped by the police near Freedom Park.

Infuriated farmers shouted slogans against the state government for the anti-farmer bills sitting on Sheshadri Road. The huge traffic jam was witnessed near Anand Rao Circle, Sangolli Royana Bridge and Sheshadri Road.

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It may be recalled that Karnataka had earlier passed a law which permits non-farmers to buy farmlands. In May, the state amended the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act which allows farmers to directly sell to private players which irked the farmer organisations.

Demanding withdrawal of the bills, the farmers stated that they will protest day and night till the completion of the state legislature's monsoon session.

Addressing the farmers, Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha State President Kodihalli Chandrashekhar said,"We will fight day and night till the government drops amendments to the Acts.

“Both the state and central government are taking anti-agriculture and anti-farmer policies and we demand its immediate rollout. These bills will make farmers the slaves of big corporates and they will dominate the agricultural market. Farmers will be deprived of their rights and the right price of their produce. We request the govt to drop these amendments to safeguard farmers' interests," he explained.

The All Karnataka Sugarcane Growers Association headed by Kurubur Shanthakumar has also participated in the protest rally.

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