Belagavi: Several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra, were detained on Tuesday as they led a large march of farmers toward the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, alleging that the state’s Congress government has adopted “anti-farmer policies.”
A huge gathering assembled at Malini City Grounds before beginning the march. Alongside Vijayendra, the demonstration was led by Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R. Ashoka, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadhi Narayanaswamy, and several MLAs, MLCs and senior BJP functionaries.
The protest took place as the Karnataka Legislature conducted its 10-day Winter Session, which commenced on December 8.
Throughout the march, protesters raised slogans accusing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s administration of failing to respond to farmers’ concerns. Vijayendra claimed that ongoing internal disputes within the ruling party had resulted in “policy paralysis,” affecting timely decisions on issues raised by sugarcane and maize growers.
He criticized the government for announcing a state support price of only ₹50 per tonne for sugarcane, despite Karnataka generating more than ₹35,000 crore in annual revenue from the crop. Vijayendra also reiterated that farmers have long demanded additional maize procurement centres, a request he said remains unfulfilled.
Narayanaswamy added that many farmers who suffered crop losses have yet to receive compensation. He argued that merely writing letters to the Union government was insufficient, suggesting that state leaders should directly engage with Members of Parliament and opposition representatives to seek relief.
BJP leaders also accused the government of failing to prevent farmers from being compelled to sell their produce to middlemen at distress prices. They described the administration’s response as “inadequate” and “neglectful,” alleging that the lack of action has worsened farmers’ financial hardships.
As the march approached security barricades near the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, police detained several leaders and transported them, along with a number of farmers, in vans. Heavy security had been deployed in anticipation of the protest, with authorities restricting movement around the legislature complex.
R. Ashoka further criticised the government by pointing to recent floods in North Karnataka. He claimed that despite repeated appeals, “no relief work has been carried out,” adding that the BJP had submitted a notice seeking an adjournment motion on the subject during the legislative session.
The detentions temporarily halted the march, but BJP leaders maintained that they would continue pressing the government to address what they described as urgent and long-standing issues affecting Karnataka’s farming community.
