Pics: Savitha B R
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SB)
Mangalore, Apr 14: Ramanath Rai, Bantwal MLA said that farmers will hold a convention in Sullia on Saturday April 16 to discuss the various problems they have been facing ever since the BJP came to power.
He was addressing reporters at a press meet held at the district office of the Congress here on Wednesday April 13. Criticizing Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, he said that the promises made by him has only proved to be empty promises as the farmers in the regime of BJP has only suffered. It is shame that he declared that the government is not responsible for the crisis in the agricultural market, he said.
Venkatesh Gowda, the president of the Sullia block Congress, said that the state government passed a bill on September 8, 2009 to snatch away agricultural lands from farmers and had even issued a notice to farmers 15 days back to vacate their land. Providing information on such land, he said that it falls into three categories namely Bane, Kumki, and Kana, adding that farmers in Sullia have a right to Kumki land as per the Madras Standing Board.
Warning that DK will have to face severe problems in future if agricultural land is snatched away from farmers, he said that the arecanut growers of Sullia have launched a movement in protest. The CM as well as farmer members of the BJP will participate in the convention as farmers and not members of any political party, he observed.
Lancelot Pinto, Moideen Bawa and T K Sudhir among others were present.