INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Karnataka witnessed a state-wide shutdown (bandh) on Monday with protests and rallies by farmers' bodies and opposition parties against
amendments to two state legislations related to the farm sector.Thousands of pro-Kannada activists and farmers came onto the streets of
Karnataka demanding the rollback of amendments to the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee Act (APMC) Act and Karnataka Land Reforms
(KLR) Act passed by the State Assembly, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has expressed willingness to talk to them.Here's all you
need to know about the recent protests and bandh in Karnataka:1
Shutdown gets mixed response, situation normal in BengaluruThe shutdown call evoked a mixed response and though markets were open, buses and
metro trains were operated, the turnout was relatively low.Pro-farmer organisations backed by a number of social and political outfits
including the Congress called for a dawn-to-dusk bandh in the state, but in Bengaluru the situation remained normal with certain areas being
blocked so that processions could take place.2
CM calls for discussion with farmer leaders to solve issueCM Yediyurappa while addressing the media said, "I want to tell the farmer leaders
that conduct the agitation today, but later come, sit with us and have a discussion
I am always ready to make changes for the benefit of farmers."3
New amendments would benefit farmers, says CMHe added that the new amendments would actually benefit farmers since they can sell their
produce wherever they wish and this could happen either in the APCM or they can sell it directly to anyone in any part of the state and the
country."There was a time when cases were registered against farmers for selling their produce from one district to another district
We are removing these restrictions on farmers to sell their produce anywhere," the CM further stated.4
Heavy police deployment in parts of state in view of massive protestsAmid heavy police deployment, the protesters, waving party flags and
raising slogans against the amendments to the APMC and land reforms acts courted arrest
Parts of the state, including the capital city, saw massive protests with public squares teeming with protesters.Bengaluru City Commissioner
Kamal Pant had initially said, "We have not given permission for any protests in the city
We will deploy 12,000 civil police, 47 KSRP, 24 CAR platoons in Bengaluru." Senior police officials have been deployed to supervise the
situation.' But with the protesters adamant, they were later given permission.5
Hundreds of protesters detained in BengaluruIn Bengaluru, the protests took place at Town Hall, Ballari Road, Yelahanka and Mysuru Bank
Hundreds of protesters who gathered at Mysuru Bank circle were detained and taken in BMTC buses to the City Armed Reserve (CAR) headquarters
and KSRP Parade Grounds in Madiwala.6
Many Karnataka districts affected due to bandhMany districts in Karnataka were also affected by the bandh
Protests took place in important locations in Yadgir, Bagalkote, Vijayapura, Mysuru, Chamarajanagara, Mandya, Bidar, Chitradurga,
Kalaburagi, Raichur, Ballari, Belagavi, Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Dharwad, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Tumakuru, , Davangere and Ramanagara.7
Opposition calls amendments unnecessary, draconian Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Siddaramaiah claimed the amendments were
"Both the amendments will have deadly effect on the farmers," he alleged during the agitation staged by his party in the city.AICC general
secretary in-charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, asked the Chief Minister to repeal the 'draconian amendments' instead of banning
the bandh."Dear B S Yediyurappa ji, Instead of banning the Farmers #Karnataka Bandh, 'ban' - 'banish' the anti farmer- labourer mindset
Withdraw the law - apologise for the blatant sell out by BJP on Land Reforms Bill
Repeal the draconian amendments to APMC Act
This is your litmus test!" he tweeted.8
Protesters ignore social distancing norms, many seen without masks Ignoring social distancing norms to contain the spread of coronavirus,
farmers hit the streets in groups at many locations, raised slogans, took out bike rallies and staged demonstrations.In Bengaluru, farmers
and Karnataka Rakshana Vedike members, including its chief TA Narayana Gowda, took out a rally and tried to stop buses when they were
Why are the protests taking placeThe demonstrations were against the Karnataka Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation and Development)
(Amendment) Bill and the Karnataka Land Reforms (Second Amendment) Bill passed in the Assembly on Saturday.The protesters alleged that the
amendments would ruin agriculture as people with "moneybags" would purchase farm lands to convert their "black money into white."10
What does the amendment sayThe APMC amendment curtails the powers of local Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMC) and allows
private individuals to start agricultural trading, if they hold a permanent account number (PAN).The amendment to the land reforms act lifts
restrictions on purchasing agricultural land and enables any individual to buy them
Earlier, the law permitted only farmers to purchase agricultural land in the state.
