Devanahalli farmers to hold tate-level ‘Save Land’ convention on July 4 to build pressure on government

Devanahalli farmers who are on an indefinite strike demanding withdrawal of land acquisition for a proposed aerospace park in Devanahalli, have announced that they will hold a State-level ‘Save Land’ convention in Bengaluru on July 4 to bring pressure on the government to heed their demands. 

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru on Sunday, farmer leaders urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is set to hold consultations with them on July 4 to take a positive decision with respect to their demands. 

“If the government takes a decision that brings relief on July 4, we will congratulate Mr. Siddaramaiah and his government and leave. If justice is denied once again, we will take a bold decision for an even tougher struggle on that day,” the leaders said, while pointing out that national-level farmer leaders will take part in the proposed convention. 

Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha president Badagalapura Nagendra demanded that the Devanahalli land issue should be a special agenda at the special meeting of the State Cabinet at Nandi Hills on July 2. “We are appealing to the Cabinet Ministers not to return empty-handed after going to Nandi Hills via Devanahalli,” he said. 

“All Ministers in the Cabinet, including Mr. Siddaramaiah, are aware of the importance of social movements. If the government’s decision goes against farmers, this movement will intensify further,” he said. 

It may be noted that the farmers have been staging a protest in Devanahalli for the last 1,180 days seeking dropping of acquisition of 1,777 acres in 13 villages of Devanahalli taluk. Broadbasing their struggle with the support of Samyukta Horata Karnataka, the farmers have not only upped the ante against the government, but also launched an indefinite struggle at Freedom Park in Bengaluru from June 27. 

Expressing concern that the true picture of the Devanahalli dispute was not clear to most Ministers and MLAs, the farmer leaders said that they were appealing to all activists in the State to meet the MLAs and Ministers in their respective districts to explain the issue, and to persuade them to take a pro-farmer stance.