JOIN USFarmers staged a protest against Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani in Mudhol on Saturday, alleging he had assaulted Shivananda Thimasani, a farmer from Mantur village.
Shivananda has lodged a complaint against Nirani at the Mudhol police station.
He has stated in his complaint: “I was driving to my farmhouse in my car and tried to overtake a tipper, which hampered the movement of vehicles, including the speeding car in which the minister was travelling. The car was coming from the opposite direction. Immediately, the minister stopped his vehicle and verbally abused me.
He did not accept my apologies and followed me to my farmhouse and assaulted me.”
The alleged assault on Shivananda led hundreds of farmers to stage a protest, blocking the Mudhol-Lokapur road. They burnt tyres in protest against the minister’s action.
Minister denies charges
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Nirani denied the charges.
Recounting the incident, the minister accused Shivananda of verbally abusing him when his car was passing through Mantur bus stop, when he was on his way to Bilagi.
“I followed the farmer to his house just to know why he abused me. When I reached his home, Shivananda apologised to me and I left the place. After some time, speaking to the media, he falsely alleged that I assaulted him,” the minister said.
“He was involved in the farmers’ agitation in Mudhol last year. A complaint was also filed against him in this regard and a non-bailable warrant has been issued.
Shivananda, who faces arrest, has cooked up a story against me so as to file a counter complaint. Being in a responsible position, I will not resort to such an act,” he said.