Hubballi: In more embarrassment for state BJP chief, B S Yeddyurappa, who had expected to score by getting Goa Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar to agree to release drinking water from the Mahadayi river to the state, he was the main target of the farmers' anger during their day long bandh in North Karnataka on Wednesday.
Not only did they take out his mock funeral procession by garlanding his portrait with torn slippers in Nargund town, the nerve centre of the movement for Mahadayi water, they also shouted slogans against him as they marched through the streets. Some took out a procession of buffaloes, painted with slogans against him to the beating of beating drums.
In Hubballi, a large number of farmers vent their ire against Mr Yeddyurappa for not keeping his promise to get Goa to release water for their needs within the deadline he had himself set, by spitting on his portrait at Rani Chennamma Circle. Both his and Mr Parrikar's effigies were burnt and a "homa" performed on the deserted roads to invoke the Gods to "teach Congress and BJP leaders a lesson" for politicising the dispute. Navalgund police inspector, K Diwakar was injured as his pant caught fire accidentally from the burning tyres.
The agitating farmers blocked National Highway-218 between Hubballi and Vijaypur in Nargund and Navalgund towns, supported by hundreds of school children, who shouted slogans against BJP leaders, including PM Narendra Modi. One of the farmers fainted in Nargund and was rushed to hospital . All business establishments were closed and KSRTC buses and private vehicles stayed off the roads.
The bandh, which paralysed life in all districts of the Mahadayi river basin, was largely peaceful barring stone pelting in Bagalkot and pro-Kannada activists and farmers damaging window panes of the office of BJP MP, Pralhad Joshi in Hubballi. Farmer leader, Vijay Kulkarni, later asserted that the agitation would continue until Congress and BJP leaders of Karnataka and Goa came together to resolve the issue.
