Farmers pay tributes to those killed in 2008 Haveri police firing

Farmers in Haveri pay tribute to martyrs, demand government action on long-pending issues, intensify protests if demands not met.

Farmers and members of various organisations of Haveri on Tuesday paid tribute to farmer martyrs who lost their lives and others who were injured in a police firing during a violent protest over fertilisers in Haveri in 2008.

After paying tributes to farmer martyrs, the protestors staged a demonstration at Hosamani Siddappa Circle in Haveri, blocking the road for some time and raising various other demands which they said have been neglected by successive governments.

During the demonstration organised under the aegis of Dharwad district unit of Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha and Hasiru Sene, farmers first visited Nelogal village on the outskirts of Haveri and paid floral tributes to Puttappa Honnatti and then to Siddalingappa Choori at Hosamani Siddappa Circle.

Sangha president R.V. Kenchaller, general secretary Mallikarjun Ballari and others led the protest in which they highlighted the long-pending demands of the farmers and the continued apathy of the successive governments.

Addressing the protesting farmers, the speakers put forward several demands, including taking up work on linking Bedti stream to the Varada river, fixing scientific price for cotton, paddy, maize, sunflower, soybean, making interest free loans up to ₹5 lakh to farmers available at KCC Bank, providing assistance for construction of farm ponds, constructing barrages across the Kumudwati river and others.

They said that they will intensify the agitation if their demands are not met.

At a protest held under the aegis of DYFI and SFI, the protestors first paid tributes at the Raita Hutatma Stambha at Hosamani Siddappa Circle.