Farmers to block NH, SH on Feb 23

Demanding a waiver of farm loans and urging the Centre to fulfill their various demands, members of State Sugarcane Growers' Association of Mysuru and Chamarajanagar units, have decided to stage a protest against the Union government by blocking the state and national highways passing in the districts on February 23.

Association president Kurubur Shantakumar told reporters that the Union government has been urged to fix scientific prices for the produce and other demands. He said the members of Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh will lay siege to the Parliament in Delhi on February 23. "As the association members are not able to visit Delhi, we have planned a mega protest on the same day here," he said.

He alleged that in the last 25 years, the income of the MLAs and MPs have been increased several times and the government has also implemented seventh pay commission for the government employees. With this, the government has to suffer burden of Rs 1 lakh crore. But, the government has failed to ensure good prices for the agricultural produces. Kurubur also demanded the government to implement the recommendations of Swaminathan Report.

Farmer leaders Attihalli Devaraj, Moodanahalli Rajanna, Bidarahalli Madappa, Baradanapur Nagaraju and others were present.