Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP)

Bantwal, Mar 8: The government has sold government organizations to private parties. LIC and banks are in a similar way, alleged Kodihalli Chandrashekar, state president of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha Hasiru Sene.

He was addressing protests held under the leadership of the sene in front of B C Road taluk office on Wednesday against the 400 KV Udupi-Kasargod electric transmissions that are being made to pass through their lands despite wide opposition of farmers.

Demanding to stop the plans for transmissions, he asked why the land of the farmers should be used for the transmissions. He said that the government should work for the farmers instead of working as the agent of Ambani.

Raitha Sangha state secretary Manohar Shetty Nadikambalaguthu said that the deputy commissioner claimed that the farmers have agreed for the transmission route but neither the district in charge minister nor the deputy commissioner have held a meeting and held discussions with the farmers. He said that they do not want compensation but an alternative.

Bantwal tahsildar visited the spot and held discussions with the protesters but the protesters demanded that the deputy commissioner should come to the venue. Therefore, assistant commissioner K Raju received the memorandum from the protesters. The protesters dispersed after his assurances that a written report will be submitted to the government and a copy will be handed over to the protesters.

The protesters earlier held a protest rally by foot from B C Road Lions Seva Mandir to taluk office. Former minister B Ramanath Rai expressed his support to the protesters.

The protesters who were angered that the deputy commissioner did not arrive at the venue stopped traffic on B C Road-Kaikunje road for some time.