Twitter
Advertisement

Farmers decry GIM, court arrest

About 1,000 farmers led by KRRS president Kodihalli Chandrashekar blocked traffic on the busy Tumkur Road and also managed to sneak into the tight-security GIM venue.

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

The Global Investors’ Meet (GIM), 2012, inaugurated on Thursday to woo investors, invited the wrath of farmers. Members of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) staged a protest at the Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), the venue of the meet.

About 1,000 farmers led by KRRS president Kodihalli Chandrashekar blocked traffic on the busy Tumkur Road and also managed to sneak into the tight-security GIM venue. They raised slogans, accusing the government of sacrificing the interest of farmers in the name of industrialisation.

Four members of the KRRS managed to gain entry after securing passes, and shouted anti-government slogans when chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda was delivering the keynote address. The high-profile delegates were shocked at the sudden commotion.

The police, who were present in a large number at the venue, took the protestors away. Farmers arrived in four buses on Tumkur Road to block traffic. The protestors were taken away to two different places.

Chandrashekar said that during the previous GIM in 2010, the state government had promised at least 12 lakh employment opportunities for farmers. He said that two years down the line, the government was ready with another GIM, but had not generated even 12,000 jobs.

“The government is becoming a land bank for private agencies and industrialists, ignoring the interest of farmers. The farmers are not getting adequate compensation. The GIM has become Golmal Investors’ Meet at the cost of farmers’ interest,” he charged.

Principal secretary of commerce and industries department, MN Vidyashankar, said, “Meetings were held with farmers, explaining them about the guidance value (of the land). They were also convinced about it. It appears that they are misguided by a few who are against development.”

This farmer is all for GIM
Although farmers across the state may be disappointed with the GIM and showed their anguish, one farmer from Davangere may have hit a jackpot and found solutions to his power problems.
Among the many who attended the GIM was Nagappa Basappa Angadi, who looked at GIM with optimism.
Nagappa participated in various sessions throughout the day. Addressing a Japanese delegation about infrastructure projects through renewable energy, he said he wanted to know how their technology could be used on his 25 acres of land.
“I am facing major power problem on my land and this is also affecting my agricultural output. Solar power is suitable for our region,” he said.
With the Japanese delegation promising to meet him and discuss the project, Nagappa said he would attend the meet on Friday too.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement