Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MD)

Mangaluru, Aug 4: Farmers from across the district on Tuesday August 4 protested against the Land Acquisition Ordinance, Kumaradhara hydro-power project, Thumbe dam expansion and imposition of criminal and civil cases on farmers to recover debts illegally. The protest was held in front of the DC's office. The police installed barricades to stop farmers from barging in.

Working president of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) and Hasiru Sene Kodihalli Chandrashekhar leading the protestors demanded the police department to allow them to meet the deputy commissioner (DC) A B Ibrahim and submit a memorandum, but the police rejected the plea and the farmers sat on dharna on the road itself and protested.

Additional DC Sadashiva came to the spot and listened to their problems, and said that DC Ibrahim had gone to Kannur to inspect the water pipeline work. But the protestors were not convinced and demanded that that the come to the spot.

Questioning the DC, Kodihalli Chandrashekhar said, "The DC does not understand our problems. Farmers are consuming poison everyday. They are not able to look after their families. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah are playing with our lives. Bank officials are visiting our houses and threatening to auction our properties if we fail to clear the loans. If any banker comes to your (farmer's) house to force you, then tie him to a tree outside."

KRRS secretary Subrahmanya Shastry said, "Politicians remember us only when there is election. We are spreading awareness in rural areas that farmers should not committ suicide."

While praising the farmer, president of Mangaluru bar association S P Chengappa lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said, "Farmers are our parents. They are the ones who provide food for everyone. Every person should join hands to stand up for the rights of farmers. When people wanted a change at the centre, Modi government came to power with lots of promises. But now, PM Modi is very busy travelling to foreign countries. Modi is not opening his mouth. There were many better prime ministers before who supported farmers. Today our Modi is supporting the Ambani group. His new campaign 'Mann Ki Baat' is not going to fill the stomach of farmers.

"Street vendors are becoming jobless because of foreign investors entering Indian markets. Politicians are living their happy lives sucking the blood of the poor farmers," he added. He also criticized the DC for going to Kannur to inspect the pipeline work.

Soon, DC Ibrahim returned from Kannur and listened to the farmers' problems.

Kodihalli Chandrashekhar said, "The government should have already arrived at a solution. But they (government) are not talking about us. We know the DC is very good. He has done a lot of work. I have faith in him and believe that he would be able to convince the government to solve our problems very soon. Farmers' suicides should not be termed as suicides, but 'murders'. It is not a suicide, but politicians are trying to change public mentality.

"The government is mainly responsible for the murder of the farmers. Modi must understand that this is a murder. Loans have to be given to farmers without interest and a scientific system of valuation should be brought about. Long back Rs 65,000 crore was given by former union minister Chidambaram to the banks to pay off the debts, and at that time the banks were running smoothly. Why cannot the government pay off the debts now?" he added.

"Rs 45 lac crore has been given to the corporate sector. Media is highlighting the names of the richest people. Media must stop this immediately. Those people are not rich - they have eaten all our money. Media should highlight the poverty rate of the country. Farmers do not have life security. Government should give us security, not free rice. From last 65 years we are being fooled. The funds mentioned in the budget have been released," he said.

"The Kumaradhara hydro-power project must be stopped immediately. It is going to affect the lives of farmers as well as the environment. I have never heard anybody saying that someone died because of no food, because the farmer is struggling to prepare rice for everyone. We do not even have proper clothes to wear. Whenever budget time comes around, lot of funds are released, but all those funds are our money. All the ministers go abroad on trips. In China, mobile phones are made in villages. Industries should not always go to cities like Bengaluru, they should also go to rural areas. People-friendly law is necessary," Chandrashekar urged.

A memorandum was submitted to the DC. In response, he assured that he would speak to the state government and try to solve the problems faced by the farmers.

Dhanakeerthi Balipa, district vice-president of KRRS, B Shreedhar Shetty, working president and others were present.