Nargund Bandh Over Farmers’ Demand For Drought Declaration

Gadag: A farmers’ bandh seeking declaration of the region as drought-hit disrupted normal life in Nargund Town on Saturday, affecting bus services and leaving passengers and students struggling to travel in and out of the town.

The protest was held under the banner of Mahadayigagi Mahavedike. The farmers are unhappy with the government’s drought-hit list, pointing out that none of the taluks in the Malaprabha irrigation command area has been declared drought-hit.

Farmers said their crops had been completely damaged due to the failure of the monsoon and that people were struggling for want of employment. The bandh, which began in the morning, received widespread support from traders and various organisations.

Bus services were hit, affecting passengers, with buses stopping operations in Naragund by around 9 am. Buses from the nearby towns returned without entering the town.

With shops closed, some also struggled to find food and refreshments.

At around 11 am, farmers led by Shankar Ambali, Shankargowda Patil and others took out a protest march from the old municipal council premises.

They marched through the main streets and staged a road blockade for about an hour at Shivaji Circle on the Hubballi-Vijayapura National Highway.

The protesters then moved to the protest venue where the agitation continued. Members of various farmers’, pro-Kannada and Dalit organisations took part in the protest.

Deputy Commissioner Sridhara was scheduled to arrive at 2 pm to receive the farmers’ memorandum. The protesters said they would not call off the bandh until he came.

The Deputy Commissioner arrived around 3 pm and received the memorandum. Following assurance from him, the farmers withdrew their protest, and the bandh was called off.