The Mudigere taluk bandh called by Mudigere Taluk Growers’ Association and Karnataka Growers’ Association was total on Thursday.
The associations had called for a bandh demanding the government to settle the row over encroachment.
On account of bandh, shops remained closed from 6 am to 5 pm. Though government offices, banks, petrol bunks and essential commodity shops had remained open, there was no much activity. Holiday was declared for schools and colleges on Wednesday itself.
Bandh received good response not only in Mudigere town, but also in Banakal, Kottigehara and Jannapura. As Wednesday is market day in Gonibeedu, market was opened at Gonibeedu and Jannapura in the evening.
Protest
A huge protest was staged in Mudigere town as a part of bandh. Hundreds of farmers, office-bearers of various organisations and all-party workers took part in a protest rally which culminated at Raithabhavan.
The protesters shouted slogans urging the government not to touch their land. A protest rally was carried out from K M Road to Adyantaya Mandira via M G Road and Lions Circle.
Addressing the protesters, Rajya Raitha Sangha President K S Puttanayya said that any farmer with agriculture land for livelihood is not an encroacher and the land used for farming activities can not be considered as illegal.
“Farmers do not cultivate in the land to lead a luxurious life, but they have been contributing for economic progress of the country through agriculture. The land which is used to feed people, should not be evicted,” he said.
MLA B B Ningaiah who too participated in the protest criticised the government for evicting the farmers. The government should protect the interest of farmers and not harm them.
In a memorandum submitted to the tahsildar, protesters have demanded the government to amend the Land Revenue Act, give land rights of Inam, Jumma, Paisari, Gomala and Devarakad to farmers, reject Balasubramanian report, file review petition before the High Court on encroachment issue, mark borders of the private land after a survey and form village forest committees.
Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels| Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks