A BJP MLA has hauled Chief Minister Siddarmaiah over the coals over the lathicharge against farmers on Thursday.
Speaking in the Assembly on Friday, Kolar Gold Fields MLA Y Ramakka said: “Why have you beaten the farmers? Now they have been hospitalized with broken legs Now, you must give them compensation. They had not come to you to ask for clothes or money. They came to ask you for drinking water.”
She continued: “We enter the house as though it’s a temple, fold our hands before the government as if it’s the god.”
Incidentally, the main entrance to Vidhan Soudha has the words “Government’s work is god’s work” inscribed in large letters.
“If you request something from god, are you beaten? They have survived; give them compensation so that they can live, otherwise they will continue to fight.”
On Thursday, a large group of farmers from Chikkaballapura, Kolar, and other districts had come to Bengaluru, demanding implementation of the Paramashivaiah Committee report. They blocked Mekhri Circle in the state capital for hours with tractors, demanding the state government’s attention. Mekhri Circle is one of the city’s busiest areas, and is also an approach road to the airport.
On Friday, farmers in Kolar protested against the Chief Minister, burning an effigy of his dead body. They raised slogans against the government.