Karnataka Bandh highlights: Congress delegation meets governor over farm laws; Protests continue in parts of state

Amid protests in parts of Karnataka, a Congress delegation of senior leaders led by Karnataka PCC chief DK Shivakumar met state Governor Vajubhai Vala on Monday to submit a referendum requesting him not to adopt the Centre's new farm laws in Karnataka. Thousands of protesters including farmers, pro-Kannada activists and members of other organisations gathered in front of the Town Hall to protest against the state and central government's amendments to land reforms and the APMC Act. The police has detained about 300 people thus far for blocking roads while protesting. Police in the city and across the state have taken steps to maintain law and order during the Karnataka bandh on Monday called by farmers, labour unions, and various rights organisations. Stay tuned for live updates.

Governor appeals state govt to not adopt farm laws

In charge of the Karnataka Congress and General Secretary of AICC Randeep Surjewala, and a delegation comprising senior leaders of the party met with the governor today. On this occasion, the governor appealed to the state government not to adopt anti-farmer amendments.

Congress, JD(S) workers detained in Kodagu district

Around 5,000 farmers took to streets to protest against farm laws

No bandh in Dakshina Kannada, farmers and others organisations to stage dharna

The Karnataka bandh call given by various farmers' organisations supported by the Congress, CPI, JD(S) and other organisations failed to evoke a strong reaction in Dakshina Kannada on Monday. Buses including those by private operators and autorickshaws were running as usual in the district.

Read More

Farmers march from Basaveshwara circle to Tahsildar office

Surjewala addresses protests against farm laws in Karnataka

Farm laws promised by Cong earlier, now party taking U-turn: Tejasvi Surya

Farmers know that farm lawspassed by govt is for their welfare. Congress which is today protesting against the bills had earlier promised in its manifesto to bring these reforms if it comes to power. But since Modi govt has done it now, Congress is taking a u-turn: Tejasvi Surya, BJP

Will convince farmers on APMC, land reforms: BS Yediyurappa

With his pro-farmer credentials at stake, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said Monday that he would travel around the state to personally convince the farmers about the benefits of freeing up agricultural trading and farmland ownership.

Read More

Bandh evokes mixed response in Kalyana Karnataka

Though the bandh call given today against the farm laws evoked a mixed response in Kalyana Karnataka, a series of protests by various organisations demonstrated anger the farming community has over the amendments to Land Reforms and APMC Acts.

Read more

Hundreds of protesters who gathered at Mysore Bank circle are being detained by the police. The protesters are being taken in BMTC buses to itCity Armed Reserve (CAR) headquarters andKSRP Parade Ground in Madiwala.

Protests are taking place against amendments to APMC and Land Reforms Bills. I had spoken to leaders of farmers associations at Vidhana Soudha, a few days back. They were not willing to discuss the amendment when I called them to discuss the Farm Bill, says Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa.

The protesters allegethat these laws will ruin the agriculture sector as people with moneybags will purchase agricultural land to convert their black money into white and turn agriculture land into real estate business.

Farmers in Karnataka stage protests against amendments to Land Reforms Act, APMC Act

Pro-farmer organisations backed by a number of other social and political outfits on Monday staged protests across Karnataka over the amendments to the APMC and land reforms Act.The demonstrations were against two important amendments to the Karnataka Land Reforms Act and the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee Act passed by the Karnataka Assembly despite strong objection by the opposition parties, mainly the Congress and JD(S).

The amendment to the KLR Act lifts restrictions on purchasing agricultural land and enables any individual to purchase it.

Karnataka Bandh gets good response in Davangere

The state-wide bandh called by various farmers organisations in protest against amendments to APMC and Land Reforms Acts received good response in Davangere on Monday. Majority of business establishments, government offices, banks, hotels, malls remained closed. The city buses, autorickshaws stayed off the road. Though some nationalised banks were opened in the morning, they shut the doors around 11:30 am following the demand from pro-Kannada organisations.

KPCC staging a protest against State and Union governments over the passage offarm Billsat Congress Bhavan in Bengaluru on Monday. Credit: DH Photo/B H Shivakumar

Traffic movement has almost come to halt as protesters rally towards the Freedom Park in Bengaluru.

The rallyhas begun walking from Town Hall towards Mysore Bank circle and the Freedom Park. Thousands of farmers, farmer leaders and activists of Kannada pro-organisations are part of the rally.

300 detained amid farmer protests near Bengaluru's Town Hall; Traffic snarls in several areas

Thousands of protesters including farmers, pro-Kannada activists and members of other organisations gathered in front of the Town Hall to protest against the state and central government's amendments to land reforms and the APMC Act. The police has detained about 300 people thus far for blocking roads while protesting.

Read more

Traffic jam near Town Hall in Bengaluru due to protest by farmers

Thousands of protesters including farmers, pro-Kannada organisation activists and other organisations members have gathered in front of the Town Hall to protest against the state and central government for amendments in land reforms and APMC Act. The leaders of various farmers organisations including Kodihalli Chandrashekar and Kuruburu Chandrashekar are heading towards Town Hall. Another former leader Nagendra is already at Town Hall along with many farmers. Some protesters who tried to stop the buses near Town Hall were detained by the police when they slept on the road and tried to cause inconvenience for the public movement.

Activists take out bike rally in support of bandh in Shivamogga on Monday. Credit: DH Photo

The state-wide bandh call given by various organisations in protest against amendments to APMC and Land Reforms Acts received poor response in Chief Minister's home district on Monday. The movement of vehicles including KSRTC buses, private buses, autorickshaws was normal in the city. Taxis were plying between Shivamogga and Bhadravathi. Business establishments remained open in major areas of the city.

Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene, and other organisations protest in front of Sir Puttanna Chetty Town Hall in Bengaluru.

Farmers and Kannada activists are seen requesting motorists to support bandh call given in protest against farm Bills of the government in Belagavi on Monday. Credit: DH photo/Ekanath Agasimani

Passengers are seen arrivingat the Majestic Bus Station in Bengaluru despite a statewide bandh called by farmers' organisations.

Farmers protest Farm Bills and the Land Reforms Act in Kalaburagi. Credit: DH Photo

Farmers and Kannada activists requesting motorists to support bandh call given in protest against anti-farmer laws of the government in Belagavi on Monday. DH photo by Ekanath Agasimani

Farmers' organisations offer flowers to shopkeepers in Hubli, requesting them to support today's statewide bandh.

Activists of Karnataka Navnirman Sene stagedemonstration at the exit gate of Central Bus Stand in Belagavi on Monday, blocking the movement of buses during the protest against anti-farmer laws. Credit: DH Photo

Bandh: No closure of official establishments, says BBMP chief

All BBMP offices, hospitals, markets, and other establishments will be open on Monday, the civic body’s commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad has confirmed. The commissioner made the announcement to clear confusion over the availability of services following the bandh call by various organisations.

Read more

Congress backs bandh, plans campaign against Karnataka govt

AICC general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala on Sunday charged the Narendra Modi-led Centre and Yediyurappa’s state government of launching a “diabolical and debilitating attack” on the lives of farmers.

Read more

Talking to the press, Bengaluru Police Commissioner Kamal Pant has warned strict action against those participating in the bandh. “No one approached us for permission,” he said, adding that those protesting on the road will be arrested.

Police in the city and across the state have taken steps to maintain law and order during the Karnataka bandh on Monday called by farmers, labour unions, and various rights organisations.