The Kalaburagi bandh call given by farmers organisations demanding better prices for red gram, a special package for affected red gram growers and the strengthening of the Tur Board evoked a mixed response on Wednesday.
While routine activities in most areas of the city remained unaffected, some areas where farmers organisations have influence, such as the AMPC Market, observed a voluntary bandh to express solidarity with the agitating farmers.
Vehicular movement was as usual with Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) buses, autorickshaws and private vehicles operating services.
Banks, educational institutions, shopping malls, government offices, hotels and other commercial establishments transacted business as usual.
Farmers gathered at the Central Bus Stand in the city in the morning and marched through SVP Chowk, the Deputy Commissioner’s Office and Jagat Circle to the Supermarket.
Holding banners and flags, the agitating farmers raised slogans against the State government and demanded that it address their issues.
Traders pulled down the shutters of their establishments when the procession passed through the road in front of their shops but continued their business once the procession moved on.
The bandh call was given by a forum of Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha, All India Kisan Sabha, both factions of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Hasiru Sene, Centre of Indian Trade Unions, different factions of Dalit Sangharsh Samiti and the Construction Workers Association.
The Tur Growers Association, the Foodgrains and Seed Merchants Association, the Kalyana Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the APMC Traders Association, the Kirana Bazaar Traders Association, the Dal Mill Owners Association and the Rice Traders Association, which extended their support to the bandh, ensured that there were no business activities under their control.
As a precautionary measure, adequate number of policemen took up key positions, especially along the road through which the procession passed, to ensure that no untoward incident occurred.
Farmers leaders Sharanabasappa Mamshetty, Bhimashankar Madial, S.R. Kollur, Maula Mulla, Arjun Gobbur, Mobin Ahmad, Mahantesh Jamadar and others addressed the agitating farmers at the Supermarket.
Their demands included compensation of ₹25,000 an acre to red gram growers who have suffered crop loss due to dry weather, raising the Minimum Support Price (MSP) to ₹12,500 a quintal for red gram, instituting ₹1,000 crore revolving fund for red gram growers, allocation of ₹25 crore to strengthen the Tur Board, adoption of KMF model to safeguard the interests of red gram growers, taking steps to ensure that the Tur Board purchases red gram from farmers and make farm products, including red gram in the mid-day meal scheme and opening red gram procurement centres as soon as harvest begins to buy the crop at Minimum Support Price.
Published - January 22, 2025 07:34 pm IST
