Thousands of farmers, led by the Congress, from flood-hit north Karnataka laid siege to Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday, venting their anger against the state government’s failure to provide them adequate relief.
Led by former Congress minister HK Patil, farmers from Dharwad, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gadag and Haveri districts poured into Freedom Park to hold a rally before they headed towards the Vidhana Soudha.
Addressing the rally, leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah, KPCC president RV Deshpande, senior leaders DK Shivakumar, VS Ugrappa and HK Patil accused the BJP government of betraying the farmers.
The leaders accused chief minister BS Yeddyurappa of playing a political drama to retain power, while lakhs of flood-hit people in northern Karnataka are living under inhuman conditions. They said Yeddyurappa is shedding crocodile tears to fool people.
The leaders alleged that the state administration had collapsed. Funds collected from the public to the tune of Rs1,800 crore for flood relief works had not been utilised.
Protesters alleged that the government, failed to come to the rescue of the farmers, and lathi-charged them for demanding justice. They said the farmers’ curse will ensure the fall of this government and that Yeddyurappa, who took oath in the name of the farmers, has stabbed them in the back.
The farmers marched towards the Vidhana Soudha later in the afternoon. As prohibitory orders were in force due to the ongoing legislature session, police took hundreds of farmers and Congress leaders Deshpande, Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar and others into custody.
All of them were released later in the evening. The city police, meanwhile, had a tough time maintaining the situation from spinning out of control and diverting the rally-affected vehicular traffic. About 300 police personnel were deployed throughout the rally route.
The rally held up traffic on Ambedkar Veedhi, KR Circle, Gopala
Gowda Circle and Ananda Rao Circle, besides Cubbon Road and MG Road from 3.30pm to 5.30pm.
Traffic police diverted vehicles proceeding towards Anand Rao Circle flyover, after vehicular movement came to a standstill for two hours. Vehicles were also prevented from entering Ambedkar Veedhi.
(Inputs from Hemanth Kumar, K Ramanujam and Shwetha S)
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