Mysuru: The farmers staged a dharna in front of Member of Parliament Pratap Simha’s office in Jaladarshini Guest House on Hunsur Road here on Thursday.
During the protest, farmers called upon Pratap Simha to press on the Centre seeking a fair deal for the state farmers in the forthcoming union budget. They justified the necessity of a special package in the budget as drought had consumed the lives of a few farmers. They also requested complete waiver of loans as several pleas with the state government had fallen on deaf ears. Later, after sharing their grievances, they submitted a memorandum to the MP.
Replying to farmers demand, Pratap Simha assured them that he would apprise the prime minister on the gravity of the situation and added that he would garner the support of all State BJP MPs in that context. During the BJP Government in State under B S Yeddyurappa, the loans of farmers had been waived during drought but the present Congress government was silent on the issue, he said. He categorically said that the present government was keen on constructing a huge steel bridge in Bengaluru instead of caring for the farmers and sought a white paper from the chief minister on the steps taken to alleviate the agony of farmers caught in the web of drought.
The dharna was led by KRRS State General Secretary Badagalapura Nagendra and District President Hosakote Basavaraj.
