In a powerful call to action, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) President Badagalapura Nagendra has urged farmers, labourers, and Dalit organisations across the state to forge a united front to fight for their rights. He issued this rallying cry during the Mysuru district farmers' convention held on Tuesday.
A Stinging Indictment of Political Establishments
Nagendra launched a sharp critique against both the Union and the Karnataka state governments, alongside all major political parties. He specifically named the Congress, BJP, and JD(S), accusing them of collectively failing to safeguard the interests of the farming community and the common people. The event also marked the unveiling of a statue dedicated to late farmer leader KS Puttannaiah in Yelwal, organised by the KRRS as part of his birth anniversary celebrations.
He reserved particular condemnation for the three contentious farm laws introduced by the central government, branding them as tools designed to benefit corporate houses and industrialists at the expense of farmer welfare. Nagendra expressed disappointment that even the Congress government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who portrays himself as pro-farmer and a follower of leader MD Nanjundaswamy, had not repealed these laws in the state.
Broken Promises and Grave Accusations
The KRRS leader listed several unfulfilled commitments by the state administration. He pointed out that the government's promise to withdraw the anti-cow slaughter law remains pending. Nagendra asserted that the central government's farm and land reform legislation is effectively "pushing farmers into slavery." He further warned that the Union government's import policies pose a severe threat to dairy farmers, fisheries, and cotton growers.
The speech took a more serious turn with allegations of political involvement in land grabbing. Nagendra claimed that land sharks affiliated with the BJP, Congress, and JD(S) were behind the forceful encroachment of approximately 1,700 acres of land in Devanahalli. In a direct accusation, he stated that Industries Minister MB Patil had deputed his family members to purchase land from farmers in the area.
He also condemned opposition from certain quarters to the installation of KS Puttannaiah's statue in Yelwal, emphasising that the local farming community had wholeheartedly welcomed the memorial.
Echoes of Discontent from Other Farmer Voices
The convention saw other leaders echoing the sentiment of neglect and crisis. KRRS state unit chief Chamarasa Patil honoured the legacy of KS Puttannaiah. Meanwhile, Sunitha Puttannaiah highlighted that the Puttannaiah Trust is actively working for farmer welfare and women's empowerment.
In a separate event marking World Farmers' Day, State Sugarcane Growers Association president Hallikerehundi Bhagyaraj painted a grim picture of the agrarian crisis. He accused the government of failing to improve farmers' lives and highlighted the alarming rate of suicides. "One farmer is committing suicide every minute in the country due to crashing prices and mounting debt," he stated. His demands to the Centre included providing remunerative prices for all farm produce, increased grants for agriculture, and the privatisation of the power sector.
The collective message from Mysuru is clear: farmer organisations are consolidating their stance, demanding immediate action on long-pending issues, and holding all political parties accountable for what they perceive as a systematic betrayal of India's annadatas.
