Members of various farmer organizations being detained by the police during Bharat Bandh, a protest against the farm bills passed in Parliament recently
Several farmers' organisations across Karnataka are holding a state-wide bandh on today (September 28) as a sign of protest against the passage of the Centre’s ‘contentious’ Farm Bills in Parliament and the state’s Land Reforms Amendment Act which was tabled in the Assembly. The organisation is also opposing the amended Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) and Labour Acts. The farmers' group has said that they will block national highways in the state during bandh by staging rallies. Earlier on Sunday, President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the farm bills.
The all India Kisan Sabha & other organisations protested in front of Hemavathi statue in Hassan & hold bike rally, in protest against Farm Bills (now laws). Flags were raised against land reform laws and amendments to APMC and labour laws.
State is expecting disruptions in usual business due to the Karnataka Bandh call.
Police force deployed in Kalaburagi in the wake of a statewide bandh called by farmers' organisations today, in protest against #FarmBills, land reform ordinances, amendments to Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) and labour laws.
However, Karnataka Deputy CM Laxman Savadi on Sunday said there will be no disruption in transport services and govt buses will run as usual in Karnataka. The police have been requested to provide additional security in view of the bandh called against recently passed farm bill tomorrow.
Normal traffic in Shimoga
Earlier, a delegation of farmers met chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Friday. The talks failed between the state government and the representatives. The delegation decided that they would go ahead with their proposed statewide bandh on Monday.
The group said that the chief minister refused to withdraw the bills. They also accused the state government of “trying to preach, rather than listen” to their grievances.
On the same day, the state witnessed huge protests with traffic being blocked in some parts as farmers' organisation continued their agitation. The farmers are opposing the easing of norms which will allow non-agriculturalists of any income group to purchase agricultural lands and retrospectively decriminalise those who bought farmlands illegally till now.
President Ram Nath Kovind has given his assent for the three bills passed by the Parliament. The three bills are Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020.
