BJP Takes Stand for Farmers in Northern Karnataka
The Bharatiya Janata Party has officially declared it will stage a significant demonstration in Koppal on December 1, making good on its earlier warning to confront the state government over agricultural failures that are severely impacting farmers across the region.
Background: The Growing Farmer Resentment
The political confrontation has been building since November 13, when party representatives from four crucial districts within the Tungabhadra Dam command area - Koppal, Vijayanagara, Ballari, and Raichur - assembled at Munirabad, the actual site of the dam. During this gathering, they issued a clear ultimatum: release water for the second crop or face large-scale protests.
Following an indoor strategy meeting, BJP functionaries addressed the media, expressing serious concerns about the government's approach to water management. They specifically warned that if water isn't released under the pretext of replacing crest gates, agricultural communities would face devastating consequences. The party openly accused the Congress government of neglecting the state's second-largest dam and showing disregard for farmers' welfare.
The December 1 Protest: Details and Participants
As a direct outcome of these developments, the BJP has now finalized plans for a major public demonstration. The protest will be spearheaded by the party's state general secretary, P Rajeev, and is scheduled to begin at 11 am from Koppal's iconic Clock Tower, proceeding through the city until reaching Ashok Circle.
The demonstration will see participation from numerous prominent BJP figures, including party district president Basavaraj Dadhesugur, along with MLAs Doddanagouda Patil and Gali Janardhan Reddy. Also joining will be MLC Hemalatha Nayak, former ministers Halappa Achar and Nagappa Saloni, and former MP Shivarama Gowda.
The protest roster further includes former MLAs G Veerappa, K Sharanappa, and Paranna Munavalli, complemented by party state secretary Sharanu Tarikeri and state executive member Dr Basavaraj Kyavater. They will be supported by various unit office bearers, morchas, mandals, and dedicated party workers, indicating the widespread organizational support behind this movement.
Core Issues Driving the Protest
At the heart of the confrontation are two critical agricultural concerns. First, the state government's failure to declare appropriate minimum support prices for maize and paddy, leaving farmers without guaranteed income for their produce. Second, the continued non-supply of water from the Tungabhadra dam for the second crop, which threatens the entire agricultural cycle in the region.
These issues have created substantial distress among the farming community in northern Karnataka, where agriculture remains the primary livelihood for a majority of the population. The BJP's protest aims to amplify these concerns and pressure the state government into taking immediate corrective action.
