Bengaluru: State BJP president and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra on December 6 announced that nearly 50,000 farmers are expected to surround the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi on December 9 during the winter session of the legislature. The protest aims to highlight the “serious failures” of the Congress government, especially on issues concerning farmers, irrigation and development in North Karnataka.
The winter session of the assembly will be held in Belagavi from December 8 to 19. Vijayendra said that BJP and JD(S) leaders have already held detailed discussions on their joint strategy for the session. However, he clarified that the opposition has not yet discussed moving a no-confidence motion against the Siddaramaiah-led government.
Speaking to reporters, Vijayendra said that BJP intends to bring attention to what it calls the government’s mishandling of key agricultural concerns. “The issues of sugarcane growers remain unresolved. The procurement process for maize has been severely mismanaged. Out of the 54 lakh metric tonnes produced in the state, the government has managed to purchase only 5 lakh metric tonnes,” he alleged.
He further claimed that procurement of pulses and paddy has not begun and compensation for crop losses has been delayed across districts. “Considering these problems, the BJP has planned to mobilise 15,000 to 20,000 farmers, but we expect the numbers to cross 50,000 on December 9. We want to wake up this anti-farmer government from its deep slumber,” he said.
Vijayendra also criticised the Congress government for what he called administrative negligence and political distraction. “While the government is collapsing, the chief minister and deputy chief minister are in Delhi four times a week. Even junior ministers are camping in Delhi seeking support from their leaders. As a result, governance in Karnataka has suffered badly. Neither the revenue minister nor the agriculture minister is paying attention to farmers,” he said.
He warned that Congress leaders in some districts are misusing their influence and harassing government officials for personal gain. “I know everything. Their game will not last long,” he said.
Meanwhile, addressing a separate press conference in Belagavi, Legislative Council opposition chief whip N. Ravikumar and former MLA Dr. Vishwanath Patil confirmed that the December 9 protest is expected to attract at least 50,000 farmers. They said that the demonstration is intended to condemn what they described as the “anti-farmer stance” of the state government.
Ravikumar alleged that the state administration had failed to respond adequately to the ongoing agitation of Gurlapur farmers and claimed that law and order had deteriorated across Karnataka. “Congress leaders are busy fighting among themselves for the chief minister’s chair while farmers are suffering,” he said.
Senior BJP leaders, including R Ashok, CT Ravi, Araga Jnanendra and several MPs and MLAs, are expected to participate in the protest alongside thousands of farmers. Party leaders said the protest will mark the beginning of a statewide campaign against the Congress government, which they accuse of neglecting rural distress.
