HUBBALLI: Farmers agitating in support of Kalasa-Banduri irrigation project are furious as they are unlikely to get a chance to meet Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi when he touches down at Ranebennur on Saturday to offer condolences to the kin of cultivators who committed suicide recently.
According to a tentative programme released in Bengaluru, Mr Gandhi was scheduled to meet a delegation soon after his arrival in Ranebennur. The agitating farmers, however, said they have not received any invitation so far. The upshot: farmers of Naragund and Navalgund have resolved to intensify their stir demanding that the leader should visit their towns. They are already furious about a statement made by party president Sonia Gandhi during the Assembly polls in Goa, stating that her party would not allow diversion of Mahadayi water to the river Malaprabha.
“We were not allowed to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Bengaluru in order to appeal to him about need for early resolution of inter-state water dispute. Now, a similar attempt to meet Mr Rahul Gandhi will not yield any result if we are denied a chance to meet him. He should have visited the agitating farmers in Nargund if he has concern for the farming community.
Moreover, Congress leaders should have made arrangements to allow us to meet the leader and to convince him about the project,” says Vijay Kulkarni, president, Kalasa Banduri Horata Samiti. In Bengaluru, party sources said the party could intimate agitating farmers at the 11th hour so that a select group gets an opportunity to meet Mr Gandhi. “If we inform them in advance, they may come in large numbers and such a crowd could be a big issue from the security point of view,” sources added.
Security up in Mandya
Bengaluru: Elaborate security arrangements have been made in view of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's visit to Mandya district on Friday. According to police, two helipads are ready for two helicopters. Two additional superintendents of police, three deputy superintendents of police, 27 police inspectors, 110 assistant sub-inspectors and sub-inspectors, 750 constables, 32 women constables, 200 home guards have been deployed.
Besides, 200 vajra motorcycles, five platoons of KSRP, six platoons of District Armed Reserve, four fire tenders, three cranes, three ambulances and a bomb disposal squad have been kept ready. Police said barricades have been erected around the houses of farmers who committed suicide as Mr Rahul would visit and interact with family members.
Today’s schedule
- 10.30 am: Meets senior ministers
- 11 am: Visits families of farmers
- 2.30 pm: Attends GP members’ meet
- 5.30: Meeting with delegations
