Belagavi session begins today as Opposition, farmers hit streets

The 10-day session of the legislature begins at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha (SVS) here on Monday, even as the opposition parties have hit the streets, demanding payment of dues to sugarcane farmers.

It’s the first time that the monsoon session has been organised in continuation of the budget session held earlier in the year in Bengaluru. The city has earlier hosted the winter session.

The failure of the government in ensuring that the sugar factories pay the farmers their dues has become a weapon for the BJP and JD(S). Farmers’ organisations have also been holding protests, demanding that the interests of the sugarcane growers be protected. Suicides by farmers have given more ammunition to the farmers.
 
The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Hasiru Sene and State Sugarcane Growers Association have joined hands to stage protests against the government outside the SVS.

Farmers organisations have decided that their representatives would not step inside
the SVS to talk with the chief minister or the ministers concerned, so that they come to the protest site for discussions.

The padayatra of the JD(S) led by State president H D Kumaraswamy has received support from the people and this has enthused the party to take on the government in the House.

Rs 10K cr for irrigation

Party spokesperson Y S V Datta said that the Congress - prior to the elections - had announced that Rs 10,000 crore would be provided towards the completion of irrigation projects in North Karnataka. But, the party has not followed it up with action, Datta said. The JD(S) also plans to raise the issue of corruption in the Lokayukta in the House.

BJP spokesperson S Suresh Kumar said that the party would raise the issues of corruption in the Lokayukta, law and order problems and those of the agriculture sector.  
Preparations for the smooth conduct of the legislature session have been completed by the district administration, including accommodation for the chief minister, his cabinet colleagues, legislators, officials and security personnel.

S Suresh Kumar, BJP spokesperson : BJP will raise the issues of corruption in the Lokayukta, law and order problems and those of the agriculture sector.