Mandya/Mysuru: As part of a Statewide stir, hundreds of farmers under the banner of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) staged a demonstration in front of the Office of Mandya Deputy Commissioner here this morning. They were demanding full farm loan waiver in Co-operative Banks and Sthree Shakthi Sanghas and stipulation of minimum SAP (State Advisory Price) of Rs. 3,500 per tonne for sugarcane.

Condemning the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, the farmers raising slogans against the State Government, marched in a procession from Sir M.V. Statue on Mysuru-Bengaluru road to DC’s office where they staged a demonstration urging the Government to immediately stop release of water from KRS to Tamil Nadu.

Pressing the State and Central Governments for total farm loan waiver, the protestors wanted the Governments to come to the rescue of the farming community, which is in deep distress due to severe drought and crop loss.

MLA and KRRS leader K.S. Puttannaiah, KRRS office-bearers Nandini Jayaram, K.S. Nanjundegowda and others led the demonstration. Tight Police security was provided around the DC office.

Meanwhile, over 30 members of Jaya Karnataka staged a rasta roko at Sir M.V. Statue on Mysuru-Bengaluru road in protest against the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. They warned of intensifying the agitation if the State Government continued to release water.

In another protest, over 40 members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike staged a road blockade at Sanjay Circle on Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway over the same issue.

As a result, traffic on the busy Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway was disrupted for a few minutes, before the Police dispersed the protestors at both the venues.

However, there was no vehicle pile-up on the road as the Police ensured smooth flow of traffic at both the points.

Protests in Mysuru

In response to a Nationwide stir, called by farmer associations across the country, over 30 farmers under the banner of Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers Association staged a demonstration in front of the Taluk Office in Nazarbad this morning, demanding total waiver of farm loans.

Strongly condemning the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, the protestors urged the Chief Minister to announce   total loan waiver, declare SAP (2016-17) for Sugarcane and to immediately stop release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. The association office bearers Varakodu Krishnegowda, Nagaraj and others took part in the protest.

As part of the State-wide stir, the Mysuru District unit of KRRS staged a demonstration in front of the DC office here this morning, demanding the State Government to announce full loan waiver in Co-operative Banks and the Union Government   in public sector and commercial banks.

Urging the Government to immediately stop release of water from KRS to TN, the protestors urged the Chief Minister to come to the rescue of the farmers of Cauvery basin by releasing water in canals.

They also urged the Union Government to implement M.S. Swaminathan Committee recommendations as promised by the BJP ahead of the 2014     Lok Sabha polls.

They warned of staging a massive demonstration in Bengaluru on July 10, if their just demands are not met. KRRS leaders Hosakote Basavarj, Hosur Kumar, Ashwath Narayan Raje Urs, Lokesh Raje Urs and others took part.

CM reacts at Hassan

Even as protests continued for the third day today at Mandya over the release of Cauvery water to TN, Chief Minister    Siddharamaiah speaking at Hassan, this morning, said, Cauvery water was released to comply with the Supreme Court order and the State Government would never compromise on the interests of farmers.

Asserting that the State Government was very much aware of the water needs of farmers of Cauvery basin, the Chief Minister said the Government was watching the progress of monsoon and would resort to cloud seeding in a couple of weeks if there was rain shortfall.

The Chief Minister is in  Hassan to attend the public rally organised by the Congress as part of the party’s region-wise rallies with an aim of showcasing government achievements in the past four years.