<p>Receiving information that the Chief Minister was in Bellary for attending a pooja at the residence of Revenue Minister G Karunakara Reddy, about 40 farmers decided to meet him to lodge their protest against the take-over of their land, but landed in police custody instead.<br /><br />The farmers wanted to convey to the Chief Minister their protest against the recent statement of Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy in the Assemby that there was no opposition from the farmers for the airport project. When the police confronted them at Bisilahalli on the outskirts of the city, the farmers pleaded with them to let them meet the Chief Minister. <br /><br />After exchange of words with the farmers, police took them into custody, and took them away in their vehicles. The vehicles went around many villages aimlessly, before they headed for the Moka police station by afternoon and the farmers were released after the Chief Minister had left Bellary.<br /><br />The farmers returned to Chaganur and sat on a dharna, demanding that the local legislator come and meet them. When police reached the spot, the farmers gheraoed them. <br /><br />Deputy Commissioner G N Shivamurthy arrived on the spot and assured the agitating farmers of arranging a meeting on Monday. The farmers then withdrew their dharna.<br />On his part, Yeddyurappa, who arrived by a helicopter from Chennai in the morning, attended the pooja at Reddy’s house at Havambavi. The Chief Minister’s visit was kept a closely guarded secret till Sunday morning. <br /><br />A dozen ministers of the State Cabinet and many legislators attended the pooja which was conducted at Reddy’s recently constructed residence. Among the ministers who attended the pooja included B Sriramulu, Jagadish Shettar, Ramachandra Gowda, B N Bache Gowda, Revunaika Belamagi, S A Ravindranath, Goolihatti Shekhar, D Sudhakar, Basavaraj Bommai, Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, Venkataramanappa, Shivaraja Thangadagi and Anand Asnotikar and member of the Lok Sabha J Shantha. Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy was conspicuous by his absence.<br /><br />Addressing reports at the helipad, the Chief Minister said he had attended the pooja in order to pray to the deities to enable the BJP to rule the State for its full term and also remove all obstacles in its path of power.<br /><br />Criticising the Oppostiion for “obstructing for the development of the State” and “misleading the people by giving unwarranted statements”, Yeddyurappa said he will reply to the Opposition on the floor of the House on March 18 and 19. <br /><br />He said the the government was focusing on development of all districts and remarked that the “map of the State will be changed within a span of three years”. He declared that the government is very firm on constructing the airport near Sirvar and Chagnur village and there is no question of going back on the decision.<br /></p>
<p>Receiving information that the Chief Minister was in Bellary for attending a pooja at the residence of Revenue Minister G Karunakara Reddy, about 40 farmers decided to meet him to lodge their protest against the take-over of their land, but landed in police custody instead.<br /><br />The farmers wanted to convey to the Chief Minister their protest against the recent statement of Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy in the Assemby that there was no opposition from the farmers for the airport project. When the police confronted them at Bisilahalli on the outskirts of the city, the farmers pleaded with them to let them meet the Chief Minister. <br /><br />After exchange of words with the farmers, police took them into custody, and took them away in their vehicles. The vehicles went around many villages aimlessly, before they headed for the Moka police station by afternoon and the farmers were released after the Chief Minister had left Bellary.<br /><br />The farmers returned to Chaganur and sat on a dharna, demanding that the local legislator come and meet them. When police reached the spot, the farmers gheraoed them. <br /><br />Deputy Commissioner G N Shivamurthy arrived on the spot and assured the agitating farmers of arranging a meeting on Monday. The farmers then withdrew their dharna.<br />On his part, Yeddyurappa, who arrived by a helicopter from Chennai in the morning, attended the pooja at Reddy’s house at Havambavi. The Chief Minister’s visit was kept a closely guarded secret till Sunday morning. <br /><br />A dozen ministers of the State Cabinet and many legislators attended the pooja which was conducted at Reddy’s recently constructed residence. Among the ministers who attended the pooja included B Sriramulu, Jagadish Shettar, Ramachandra Gowda, B N Bache Gowda, Revunaika Belamagi, S A Ravindranath, Goolihatti Shekhar, D Sudhakar, Basavaraj Bommai, Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, Venkataramanappa, Shivaraja Thangadagi and Anand Asnotikar and member of the Lok Sabha J Shantha. Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy was conspicuous by his absence.<br /><br />Addressing reports at the helipad, the Chief Minister said he had attended the pooja in order to pray to the deities to enable the BJP to rule the State for its full term and also remove all obstacles in its path of power.<br /><br />Criticising the Oppostiion for “obstructing for the development of the State” and “misleading the people by giving unwarranted statements”, Yeddyurappa said he will reply to the Opposition on the floor of the House on March 18 and 19. <br /><br />He said the the government was focusing on development of all districts and remarked that the “map of the State will be changed within a span of three years”. He declared that the government is very firm on constructing the airport near Sirvar and Chagnur village and there is no question of going back on the decision.<br /></p>
