Belagavi: As Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa landed in Belagavi on Tuesday to review the flood-related damages, he was met with a protest by farmers. The agitation was held by the farmers to demand the delivery of compensation that was promised to them by the state government for the loss of crops caused by the floods in 2019.
The farmers gathered outside the Belagavi Airport just before the CM arrived, however, most of them were unable to interact with him as he returned to the helicopter and did not go by road. Although some managed to enter the airport, they were stopped short by the security personnel, preventing them from meeting the CM.
During the protest, the farmers also shouted slogans against the state government’s amendment of the Land Reforms Act of 1961 in June that allowed agricultural to be bought by anyone and used for industrial and other purposes.
Bharatiya Krishi Samaj state president Sidagouda Modagi told TNM that their objective was to protest the “lack of government intervention at a time when Malaprabha and Ghataprabha are flooding their banks and farmers are losing their crops”.
He added that they have not yet received compensation for 2019’s floods either.