The farmers shouted slogans against the government for tying up with the multi-national and private companies during the inaugural session of the summit.
The inaugural function of the first Global Agribusiness and Food Processing Summit 2011 was marred by protests. About 500 farmers staged a protest inside and outside the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre, the venue of the two-day summit, accusing the state of giving land to multi-national and private companies.
The farmers shouted slogans against the government for tying up with the multi-national and private companies during the inaugural session of the summit.
Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha President K Chandrashekhar said foreign investment would have an adverse effect not just on agriculture but on its allied fields like sericulture, fisheries and horticulture.
Jnanpith awardee UR Ananthamurthy, who supported the farmers, said inviting foreign countries and aping the West would mean India would be producing food and agriculture products not for Indians but for western countries.
The protest also found support from Anand Mahindra, vice-chairman and managing director of Mahindra and Mahindra.
He said such protests keep the spirit of democracy alive.
Refuting the farmers’ allegations, chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda said: “There are concerns about the availability of land for the implementation of this initiative. I can assure you that there will be no forcible acquisition of land. We are making provisions that the land which farmers own can be used as equity in the venture and this land would continue to be with the ownership of the farmer.”
He added that the government has already identified 4,000 hectares from the land bank and impediments in the Land Reforms Act, and APMC Act are being removed.
“We are also ensuring that only serious players are invited and not speculators or real estate traders,” he added. The police detained about 200 protesters and released them later.
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