Belagavi: A massive protest by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against the Karnataka state government’s alleged anti-farmer policies escalated into a tense standoff in Belagavi on December 9. Hundreds of farmers and party supporters gathered at Malini City to voice their grievances over the government’s perceived failure to address the agricultural distress caused by delayed crop compensation, inadequate procurement, and low sugarcane prices.
The protest was led by BJP state president BY Vijayendra, former minister R Ashoka, and several MLAs, including Chaluvadi, Ravikumar, Balachandra Jarkiholi, and Nikhil Katti. The demonstrators aimed to lay siege to the Suvarna Soudha, demanding immediate action from the state government to support farmers. However, the police, maintaining tight security arrangements, intercepted the leaders before they could reach the government complex. More than 50 prominent leaders and party members were detained during the operation, highlighting the tension between the ruling Congress government and the opposition party.
ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಮರೆತು ಸದಾ ಕಾಲ ಕುರ್ಚಿ ಕಾದಾಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಗ್ನವಾಗಿರುವ ರೈತ ವಿರೋಧಿ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಸುಮಾರು 20,000ಕ್ಕೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಕಬ್ಬು, ಮೆಕ್ಕೆ ಜೋಳ, ಹತ್ತಿ, ತೊಗರಿ ಬೆಳೆಗಾರ ರೈತರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಬೆಳಗಾವಿಯ ಯಡಿಯೂರಪ್ಪ ಮಾರ್ಗದ ಮಾಲಿನಿ ಸಿಟಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರತಿಭಟನೆ ನಡೆಸಿ ನಂತರ ಬೃಹತ್ ರ್ಯಾಲಿಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ವಿಧಾನಮಂಡಲ ಅಧಿವೇಶನ… pic.twitter.com/aKROaaIOsE
— R. Ashoka (@RAshokaBJP) December 9, 2025
Addressing the crowd prior to the attempted siege, Vijayendra launched a scathing attack on the state government. “This is a shameless, anti-farmer government that has failed to respond to crop losses caused by heavy rains,” he said. He criticised the government for ignoring repeated appeals for crop compensation, stating, “Despite protests across district headquarters, the government has not acted effectively to provide relief. Crop compensation must be given immediately. The people of Karnataka will not forgive a government that ignores the backbone of the state – our farmers.”
Reacting to remarks made by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s son Yathindra, who asserted, “Our father will be the CM for five years,” Vijayendra emphasised, “It does not matter how long he remains in office. What matters is what he has done for farmers. Traveling to Delhi three times a week due to internal party issues does not help a single farmer in Karnataka.”
The BJP leaders also criticised the state government for failing to offer sugarcane growers fair prices, despite the central government having fixed the FRP (Fair and Remunerative Price). “The state has the option to provide a higher price to sugarcane growers, yet it refuses. What difficulty does the government face in giving farmers a fair return for their labor?” Vijayendra questioned.
Highlighting the lack of timely procurement of crops such as maize, he warned, “A government that neglects farmers’ welfare and does not open procurement centers promptly is pursuing anti-farmer policies. Such a government cannot survive if it continues to ignore the agricultural community.”
The protest reflects growing frustration among farmers and political leaders over the government’s approach to agriculture and rural distress. BJP leaders vowed to continue their campaign for farmers’ rights, demanding immediate intervention to ensure fair prices, prompt crop compensation, and operational procurement centers across Karnataka.
