BENGALURU: Expressed his displeasure over city police resorting to caning of agitating farmers of Kolar-Chikkaballapur districts here on Thursday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Friday that he was pained by the action of local policemen.
At the end of a brief debate in the Council on the issue, Mr Siddaramaiah said: “I am not endorsing the action of policemen against farmers. I am hurt by the incident, but the lathi-charge against farmers was not intentional.”
He informed the House that caning was triggered by a scuffle between farmers and policemen. Despite repeated requests by police officers, farmers chose not to go back but proceed to the city in tractors. The local police had no choice but to push these farmers back to the outskirts. “As farmers arrived in tractors, traffic was halted in the city for up to six hours. Due to the traffic jam, people, students and patients have suffered. Many people were not able to reach the airport on time and missed their flights. Inspite of such a massive traffic jam, we gave instructions to the police not to take any action against farmers. We have full respect for farmers and will respect their sentiments,” he said adding “the government is committed to providing drinking water to Kolar and Chikkaballapur. We have already spent Rs. 1680 crores for Yettinahole drinking project. I have convened a meeting in Bengaluru on March 6 to discuss with farmers’ leaders and provide a permanent solution for drinking water problem in these twin districts.”
Mr Siddaramaiah said during the campaign ahead of ZP/TP elections in Chikkaballapur and Kolar districts, he had assured farmers that the government would implement Yettinahole project as early as possible. “If we want to crackdown on farmers, we would not have allowed them to enter the city in tractors. Through intelligence reports, we came to know that farmers will enter the city in tractors and it would trigger traffic problem. But when farmers tried to enter the CM’s official residence, the police blocked them,” he added.
Without naming BJP and JD(S), the CM said based on this issue, some people have trying to derive political mileage by supporting more protests, road blocks and bandhs. Members of BJP, however, criticized the government for failing to handle the situation.
Government bows to Opposition pressure, to withdraw cases
A day after protesting farmers held the city to ransom, the government on Friday came under fire in the legislative assembly for its handling of the agitation. Under attack from both the BJP and the JDS for “excessive use of force by the police,” it finally agreed to withdraw cases filed against the farmers for blocking key roads in the city for over four hours to draw attention to their water troubles.
The BJP and JD(S) lost no time after the House assembled and moved adjournment motions on the farmers’ issue, urging Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa to allow a discussion on it, setting aside other business. The Speaker gave in and allowed a debate. Opposition leader, Jagadish Shettar then came down heavily on the police, especially against retired IPS officer P Kempaiah, for its treatment of farmers and advised Home Minister, Dr G Parameshwar not to give postings to the officers involved as punishment. But he withdrew his statement after Congress members objected. JD(S) MLA from Turuvekere M.T. Krishnappa wondered if the government should be compared with Idi Amin, Gaddaffi or even Hitler, for allowing the police to use lathis against farmers.
Dr Parameshwar and CM Siddaramaiah, however, defended the police saying it had exhibited utmost patience and denied there was any lathicharge. JD(S) MLA Kona Reddy, however, demanded that cases filed against farmers agitating on the Kalasa-Banduri issue in Dharwad be withdrawn as well and when the government seemed unwilling, he entered the well of the House in protest. Although the Speaker threatened to evict him from the House, Mr Reddy stood his ground and finally the CM agreed to refer 35 cases against farmers to the Cabinet sub-committee for reconsideration. The government also agreed to withdraw the cases filed in the city against the farmers as the opposition remained adamant in its demand.
