Hundreds of farmers in Karnataka's Vijayapura district took to the streets in a powerful display of dissent on Thursday. Organized under the banner of the BJP Raitha Morcha, a massive tractor rally rolled through the city, voicing strong protest against the state's Congress-led government for what they call a systematic neglect of agricultural interests.
Core Grievances and Demands of the Protesting Farmers
The rally was a culmination of several pressing issues pushing the farming community into distress. The protesters highlighted an unscientific crop survey and major discrepancies in the distribution of compensation for crop losses. A significant delay in establishing procurement centres to buy farmers' produce under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism was also a central complaint.
The farmers presented a clear list of immediate demands to the state authorities. They urged the government to:
- Expedite the payment of pending compensation for crop loss.
- Settle all outstanding crop insurance claims for grape cultivators.
- Open procurement centres for maize and tur dal under the MSP guarantee.
- Fix the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane.
Political Leaders Rally Behind Farmers' Cause
The protest saw participation from prominent BJP leaders, indicating the party's attempt to consolidate the agrarian vote bank. Key figures included Gangavati MLA Gali Janardhan Reddy, Raitha Morcha president AS Patil Nadahalli, former ministers Appasaheb Pattanashetti and SK Belubbi, former MLA Ramesh Bhusnur Vijugouda Patil, and district BJP president Gurulingappa Angadi.
Addressing the gathered farmers, the leaders launched a sharp attack on the state government. Janardhan Reddy and Nadahalli accused the Congress administration of being utterly unresponsive to the farmers' plight. Reddy made pointed remarks against central Congress leaders, stating, "Congress functionaries Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, instead of wiping the tears of aggrieved farmers, are busy placating deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar and trying to make him the chief minister."
He also targeted district minister MB Patil, alleging a lack of interest in Vijayapura's development due to his lobbying for the chief ministerial post. Reddy issued a stark warning, saying, "Patil will lose his deposit in the next election if he continues with his indifference to the problems faced by the people in the district."
Road Ahead and Political Implications
The rally, which commenced at the city's toll plaza, traversed major landmarks including Babaleshwar Naka, Shivaji Circle, Gandhi Chowk, and Baasaveshwara Circle before culminating at Ambedkar Circle. The organizers announced that the BJP would raise these critical farmers' issues forcefully in the upcoming legislature session at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, as well as continue agitation outside.
In his speech, Gali Janardhan Reddy contrasted the state government's approach with that of the centre, claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is actively engaged in framing policies to benefit farmers and their children. He ended with a dire prediction, warning that the farmers' curse would ensure the fall of the Congress government in Karnataka.
Echoing the grassroots concerns, Raitha Morcha president AS Patil Nadahalli specifically criticized the unnecessary conditions imposed during maize procurement under MSP, which have added to the farmers' hardship, and demanded their immediate relaxation.
The large-scale mobilization in Vijayapura signals growing agrarian unrest in the region and sets the stage for a major political confrontation in the state assembly, with the BJP positioning itself as the primary champion of the farmers' cause.
