Hundreds of farmers arrive in Bengaluru

Hundreds of sugarcane farmers from Belagavi district arrived in Bengaluru city on Monday morning to stage a protest, demanding minimum support price and clearance of arrears.

The farmers are presently at the Sangoli Rayanna Railway Station at Majestic and are expected to lay siege to the Vidhana Soudha later in the day. Police personnel are present at the spot to prevent any untoward incidents. The team is led by DCP Ravi Channannavar.

On Sunday, several farmers laid siege to Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi after CM H D Kumaraswamy failed to hold a meeting with them to address their grievances. Kumaraswamy had described the protesting farmers as 'goondas' and had also asked a woman activist, Jayashree Gurannanavar: "Where were you sleeping for the last four years?". The protesters and the Opposition slammed the CM over his comments and have sought an apology from him.

(More details awaited)