<p>Gubbi (Tumakuru): Despite widespread opposition from farmers and activists, officials initiated the Express Link Canal project work on Friday in Sunkapura village of Tumakuru’s Gubbi taluk.</p><p>Police intercepted protestors from various parts of the taluk en route to the site, setting up barricades at Attikatte Gate near Kadaba hobli. Many sat on the roads in protest.</p><p>During the Lok Sabha elections, Minister V Somanna had assured support for the farmers’ fight against the canal project. Protesters expressed anger that he has remained silent after becoming a minister and warned of consequences in the coming days.</p><p>Former MLA Sogadu Shivanna condemned the project’s unscientific nature, stating, “We are ready to go to jail to protect the district’s interests. If the work was legal, such a massive police deployment wouldn’t be necessary. The government is trying to suppress the movement through force.”</p><p>Raitha Sangha district president A Govindaraju criticised the government’s move to divert Hemavathi canal water, the lifeline of Gubbi taluk, to Ramanagara despite public opposition.</p><p>S D Dileep Kumar slammed local MLAs for not voicing support for the movement, saying they seem to have compromised the taluk’s pride for the sake of power and appeasing Deputy CM D K Shivakumar.</p><p>Although the protestors vowed a peaceful protest by surrounding the worksite, the administration and police detained them and relocated them by bus. Following this, the contractors continued the work under official supervision with large machinery, free from resistance.</p><p>Raitha Sangha taluk unit leaders, including Venkategowda, Lokesh, Kadashettihalli Satish, Bhairappa, Panchakshari, Prabhakar, Girish, and local villagers, participated in the protest.</p>
<p>Gubbi (Tumakuru): Despite widespread opposition from farmers and activists, officials initiated the Express Link Canal project work on Friday in Sunkapura village of Tumakuru’s Gubbi taluk.</p><p>Police intercepted protestors from various parts of the taluk en route to the site, setting up barricades at Attikatte Gate near Kadaba hobli. Many sat on the roads in protest.</p><p>During the Lok Sabha elections, Minister V Somanna had assured support for the farmers’ fight against the canal project. Protesters expressed anger that he has remained silent after becoming a minister and warned of consequences in the coming days.</p><p>Former MLA Sogadu Shivanna condemned the project’s unscientific nature, stating, “We are ready to go to jail to protect the district’s interests. If the work was legal, such a massive police deployment wouldn’t be necessary. The government is trying to suppress the movement through force.”</p><p>Raitha Sangha district president A Govindaraju criticised the government’s move to divert Hemavathi canal water, the lifeline of Gubbi taluk, to Ramanagara despite public opposition.</p><p>S D Dileep Kumar slammed local MLAs for not voicing support for the movement, saying they seem to have compromised the taluk’s pride for the sake of power and appeasing Deputy CM D K Shivakumar.</p><p>Although the protestors vowed a peaceful protest by surrounding the worksite, the administration and police detained them and relocated them by bus. Following this, the contractors continued the work under official supervision with large machinery, free from resistance.</p><p>Raitha Sangha taluk unit leaders, including Venkategowda, Lokesh, Kadashettihalli Satish, Bhairappa, Panchakshari, Prabhakar, Girish, and local villagers, participated in the protest.</p>