Farmers erupted in protest in North Karnataka districts following the suicide of a sugar cane grower in Belgaum on Wednesday.
The federation of farmers’ associations took out a protest march in Bijapur and submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner. They blocked traffic on the Bijapur-Hubli road by setting tyres on fire. As many as seven KSRTC buses were damaged after protesting farmers threw stones on them in Mudhol, Bagalkot district. Students and commuting public were put to hardship since movement of buses was stalled. Vehicles were stranded for a distance of about five km as farmers blocked the National Highway near Kudalasangama Cross.
There were similar reports of protest from Haveri and Dharwad. Addressing a press meet in Dharwad, BJP State president Pralhad Joshi blamed the State government for the farmer’s suicide and demanded the resignation of the chief minister. He said the party would pay an ex gratia of Rs two lakh to the family of the farmer.
The Haveri District Sugar Cane Growers Association declared that it will collect Re one per tonne of sugar cane supplied to G M sugar factory in Sangur in the district, so as to provide compensation to the dead farmer’s family.
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