Farmers try to enter Karnataka

Tension prevailed on the outskirts of Hosur town on Tuesday evening when the Krishnagiri district police prevented a group of farmers from the delta districts from moving towards Karnataka border to forcibly enter the State to open the Kabini Reservoir. The farmers led by P.R. Pandian, president of the Tamil Nadu Anaithu Vivasayigal Sangangalin Orunginaippu Kuzhu, were blocked by a strong police force led by D. Mahesh Kumar, Superintendent of Police, about two kms from Hosur town. Highway blocked As the police did not allow them to go ahead, they squatted on the Hosur- Bengaluru national highway raising slogans. With tension mounting, Mr. Mahesh Kumar held discussion and pacified the farmers, following which they withdrew their agitation and dispersed peacefully. A good strength of police force was posted in Zuzuwadi village to stall any move by the farmers to gatecrash into Karnataka. Later, Mr. Pandian told The Hindu over phone that paddy had withered on about two lakh acres in the delta districts already due to the non-availability of water. Crops standing on another five lakh acres have also been badly affected. He said it is time for the Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami to convene an all-party meet, including all farmers associations, to discuss the issue. The Chief Minister should take a delegation of the all party leaders and farmers’ representatives to New Delhi to put pressure on the Prime Minister and the Karnataka government.He also found fault with the Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswamy for writing a letter to his Karnataka counterpart seeking immediate release of water and for holding dialogue. Source: The Hindu