JD(S) trying to cash in on farmer's suicide, regain hold on Chikkaballapur?

BENGALURU: A farmer’s suicide in front of deputy commissioner’s office in Chikkaballapur has triggered a war of words between leaders of Congress and JD(S) with both trying to retain their hold on the district ahead of polls to Legislative Assembly in 2018.

The suicide of Anand Kumar, a JD(S) worker, further enhanced tension which was simmering following the defeat of state JD(S) chief H.D. Kumaraswamy at the hands of former CM M. Veerappa Moily during Lok Sabha polls in 2014. Besides, JD(S) leaders have been trying to regain control of Chikkaballapur as it was their bastion along with Tumakuru and Chitradurga but was wrested by Congress during Assembly polls in 2013.

Anand Kumar, who committed suicide by swallowing pesticide in front of the deputy commissioner’s office, had a cashew crop on 3.12 acre government land for the last 30 years but had applied for RTC way back in 1998. Recently, officials of the local gram panchayat came to his house to serve a notice on him for auction of the cashew crop grown on government land.

A few days ago, he participated in a rally organised by the Raitha Sangha against establishment of Anti-Corruption Bureau.

A Janata Dal (Secular) leader, who accused local Congress bigwigs of using their clout to target workers of rival political parties, said “We are going to take this farmer’s fight for land to its logical end.” On Friday, JD(S) patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda rushed to Chikkaballapur and requested revenue minister V. Srinivas Prasad to ensure that officials allow the kin of Anand to perform the last rites on the land where he had cultivated cashew.