Mysore/Mysuru: Strongly opposing the amendments to Karnataka Land Reforms, APMC and Labour Acts, farmers, under the banner of Raitha Dalita Karmika Aikya Horata Samiti, gheraoed District Minister S.T. Somashekar when he arrived to take part in the Photoraphers and Videographers felicitation programme organised by the City BJP at Shankar Mutt near Gun House Circle here yesterday.

The activists, led by Karnataka Sugarcane Growers Association President Kurubur Shantakumar, presented a memorandum to the Minister urging the Government to repeal the recent amendments  terming it as detrimental to the interests of the people of the State.

Kurubur Shantakumar said that the State Government has amended the Land Reforms Act only to favour land sharks. 

Maintaining that though the farmers and the working class have been vehemently opposing Land Reforms, APMC and Labour Acts, the State Government was ignorant of the plight of the farmers who have been protesting for long.

Shantakumar also alleged that there was shortage of fertilizer and sowing seed stocks in the State and the farmers were finding difficult to get  farm inputs.

Accusing the Government of not convening a meeting with farmers to discuss farm issues, he urged the Government to announce a revised FRP for sugarcane.

Speaking after receiving a memorandum from the farmers, Somashekar said that he has been striving for the cause of farmers for long. He further said that a meeting with farmers has been convened on Sept. 26, during which a host of farmer issues will be discussed and solutions would be found.

Farmer leaders Attahalli Devaraj, Kiragasur Shankar, Ravi, K.R. Aravind, Prasad Nayaka and others took part.