Farmers disrupt MLC election in Nargund

Hubballi: Upset over the death of farmer Dharmanna Tahsilar during a protest in Belagavi on Wednesday, scores of protestors demanding implementation of Kalsa-Banduri project barged into a polling booth in Nargund and disrupted voting for some time during elections to the Legislative Council from  Karnataka West Teachers' constituency, on Thursday.

The protest forced the tahsildar to stop voting for a few hours as farmers were involved in a heated argument with political leaders and destroyed banners and buntings erected at the polling booth. They asked teachers who had queued up for voting to boycott the election as a mark of respect to the dead farmer.

Later, farmers observed a bandh in Nargund town to pay homage to the farmer who died following a heart attack near the deputy commissioner’s office in Belagavi. They also organized a procession from the venue of protest to the farmer’s native hamlet of Yavagal along with the dead body. All business establishments downed shutters to express support to the farmers. Schools and colleges were also closed. Passengers were put to hardship as farmers blocked traffic on Hubballi-Bijapur national highway throughout the day.

As many as five farmers have died during protests in support of  implementation of Kalasa Banduri. But, political parties have failed to take up the issue seriously despite the agitation lasting more than 300 days. The Union and state governments should resolve the issue setting aside their differences. We urge the government to pay adequate compensation to farmers who died during the agitation,” said Veeresh Sobaradmath, farmers’ leader.