Yashodhara Bangera

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)

Mangaluru, Mar 3: Farmers held protests in front of the office of Moodbidri tahsildar condemning the union government's plan to ban cultivation and sale of areca, the main crop of the farmers in the coastal region.

Vidhan Parishat chief whip Ivan D'Souza addressing the protesters said that when the matter of the ban of areca was being discussed in the parliament, the number one MP of the district says that he took part in a cricket tournament. “It is unfortunate that the MP who came to power in the name of farmers is not supporting them when they are in distress.

“The state government is preparing to start an areca board. The union government should provide Rs 1,000 crore for it. The government at the center will be responsible if the farmers die after unscientific ban of areca,” he said.

Former minister K Amarnath Shetty, zilla panchayat member Kavu Hemanath Shetty, town municipal council appointed director Alwyn Menezes, Taluk panchayat former members Rukmaya Poojary, Lazarus D' Costa, advocate Padmanabha Jain and leaders of farmers were present.