Series of protests in sugar town

It was a day of protests here on Monday as various organisations staged separate protests seeking the fulfilment of their demands.

Members of Kadamba Sene batted for dubbing of films and ban on films of other languages in the State, farmers and members of Kannada Sene staged a protest demanding uninterrupted power supply; Communist Party India sought subsidy for seeds, while another organisation burnt the effigy of the ministers and vent their ire.

The members of Kadamba Sene’s district unit demanded the screening of other language films be banned across the State and instead go for dubbed movies.The protesters welcomed the decision of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in support of dubbing.

The dominance of other language films has been affecting the Kannada film industry in a big way and has given rise to differences of opinion among the film industries, they claimed.

They also alleged that the multiplexes and theatres are booked (for screening) for other language films and hoped that the new decision may help give preference for Kannada films.

Power supply sought
Residents of Alagud, Mollanakoppal, Hunjanakere and Channanakere staged a protest displaying withered crops, demanding uninterrupted power supply.

They alleged that the district administration and the government have been neglecting the farmers’ issues at a time when farmers are committing suicides due to crop loss.

While the government has been assuring to support farmers, the Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (Cesc) and other officials are not available, even on telephones, they complained.

Stir for subsidy
The members of Communist Party of India (CPI) staged a protest demanding subsidy for seeds, fertilisers and pesticides.

They stressed that measures be taken for systematic marketing and scientific price for the crops. Their other demands included pure drinking water for people, jobs under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), hike in widow, old age and physically challenged pension, increase in loan amounts for the Stree Shakti Sanghas and others.

Resignation sought
The activists of Kranti Yuva Shakti organisation of Bengaluru, staged a protest against the Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda and Housing and District-in-Charge Minister M H Ambarish for not visiting the district though several farmers hcommitted suicide due to loan burden in  the recent past.

They vented their ire by burning the effigy of Krishna Byre Gowda at Sanjay Circle and condemning the government’s failure in checking the spurt of suicide cases in the State.