Hubballi: Unhappy with the government's continued indifference to their plight, people, who lost their homes and crops in the recent floods in the region, vented their frustration by auctioning old footwear in the name of the state's netas during their ongoing indefinite dharna before the deputy commissioner's office in Belagavi on Tuesday.
Leaders of various organisations and Kannada activists joined the flood victims in buying the footwear in the auction for as little as 25 paise to Rs 3 per shoe or slipper and plan to send the collection of Rs 69 to the government as a sign of protest. “We named the old footwear after our elected representatives, including DyCMs Laxman Savadi and Govind Karajol, who hail from North Karnataka. We will send the money raised from the auction to the government as it clams to have no funds for us. It has failed to announce compensation for the flood victims although Belagavi alone contributes taxes of upto Rs 6,000 crore every year,” said farmer leader Chunappa Pujeri.
“The government must provide compensation of Rs 1.5 lakh per acre for the loss of the sugarcane crop in the floods besides Rs 15 lakh for each house destroyed,” said farmer leader Ashok Yamakanamaradi.
The protesters tried to cook on the road too, demanding rehabilitation and warned that many would die of starvation if they were not provided immediate help. As the police intervened, the protestors began to argue with them, leading to some tense moments. The flood victims organised a human chain, disrupting traffic for several hours.
