Karnataka farmers organizations called for a statewide bandh on Monday in protest against the amendments to the Agricultural Products Market Committee (APMC) and the land reform laws introduced by the government of BS Yediyurappa.
Various labor organizations, pro-Kannada groups and Congress and the JD (S), which had opposed the bills in the assembly, supported the bandh’s call.
In Bengaluru, a protest march has been planned from the City Hall to the Mysore Bank Circle against “anti-farmers” laws, farmers’ organizations told the PTI news agency.
The services of freight haulers, taxis, rickshaw drivers and private bus drivers are likely not available as they have expressed solidarity with the protests, they said.
Read also: After talks with Yediyurappa fail, farmers will move on with Karnataka bandh
However, the state-owned public transport, bus and subway services will operate normally.
Defending the bills, the government warned of severe action against any forceful application of the bandh. All necessary measures will be taken to ensure that there are no interruptions in the normal operation of its offices, hospitals, shops and establishments and the maintenance of taxi and bus services, it said.
Police have said that elaborate measures have been put in place to ensure that no adverse incidents occur.
“We have not given anyone permission to protest and senior officials have been deployed to monitor things. We will not allow anyone to shut down or stop activities by force, ”said city police commissioner Kamal Pant, warning of strict action under the law if there were any violations.
Read also: ‘Our peasant leaders are clear about the government’s intentions, there is no room for agitation’: Karnataka CM Yediyurappa
Meanwhile, Karnataka Prime Minister BS Yediyurappa claimed on Sunday that his government was pro-farmers and tried to sideline the bandh, saying there was “no room” for unrest and that the people could continue with your daily activities normally.
“I called the leaders of the farmers’ organizations and discussed with them the position of our government and the wish of the prime minister (who) is pro-farmer,” Yediyurappa told reporters.
The Karnataka Agricultural Marketing Bill (Regulation and Development) (Amendment) and the Karnataka Land Reform Bill (Second Amendment) were passed in the Legislative Assembly on Saturday despite strong opposition.
The amendments to the agrarian reform law liberalize the ownership of agricultural land and the APMC amendment bill restricts the powers of the local Agricultural Products Marketing Committees (APMC). It allows individuals to start agricultural trade, if they have a permanent account number (PAN).
(with PTI inputs)
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