File photo of farmers sitting on dharna at Chennarayapatna in Devanahalli taluk.
A group of farmers of Devanahalli taluk protesting against land acquisition will complete 1000 days of indefinite sit-in on 28th of January. Farmers are sitting on dharna in Channaryapatna of the taluk demanding the withdrawal of land acquisition process for industrial projects. . Farmers have planned to hold a rally on 30th of January.
The farmers decided to go on a sit-in on April 4, 2022, after the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) started issuing notices to farmers to acquire 1,777 acres of land. KIDAB issued a preliminary notification for the acquisition on August 30, 2021. The final notification is yet to be issued. KIADB intends to develop this land for Haralur Industrial Area Development Project (Phase 1). Farmers have united under the banner of Bhu Swadhin Horta Samiti.
Politicians visit
Since the strike began, several politicians, including former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, have met the farmers, but the demand has not been met. While Mr. Siddaramaiah first met farmers in 2022 while in opposition, his last meeting with them was on 23 December.
Farmer Ramesh Chemachanahalli said that information has been received for land acquisition in Palya, Haraluru, Polanhalli, Gokre Bachanahalli, Nallur, Mallepura, Nallappanahalli, Cheemachanahalli, Mattbaralu, Muddenahalli, Channarayapatna S Tellahalli and Tellohalli. Protesting farmers say that around 700 farmer families will be affected by this project and around 6000 workers have been employed in the agricultural sector. Up to 475 acres are owned by Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe farmers.
Mr. Chimachangalli said that when the agitation started, Mr. Kumaraswamy had met them. Later Minister KH Muniappa met them to seek votes in the 2023 assembly elections and promised to withdraw the notice. But nothing happened. In October 2024, as farmers’ protests intensified, Mr. Siddaramaiah held a meeting and promised to look into their demands after Dussehra. This promise also ended. On December 23, in the next meeting, Mr Siddaramaiah said he would discuss with the legal team what could be done.
Election boycott threat
The protest first became prominent after they decided to boycott the April 26, 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, they decided to withdraw the boycott after being convinced that their demands would be considered.
Another farmer leader, Pramod, said that his aspirations have been dashed and the agitation will not stop until the government cancels the acquisition of 1,777 acres of land.
published – Dec 26, 2024 at 07:12 pm IST