Dharwad: The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) and Hasiru Sene have decided to hold a statewide protest in front of the offices of the deputy commissioner in every district on July 3, demanding total crop loan waiver and special package for the farmers.

Speaking to reporters in Dharwad, KRRS State President K T Gangadhar has said that the crop loan waiver of Rs 50000 announced by the state government was totally unscientific and a mere eye-wash.

The last kharif and rabi seasons proved too costly for farmers. If the State Government had any concern towards them, it should have waived off the total crop loans taken by the farmers in the co-operative societies, while the Centre should have waived off crop loans taken by the farmers in the nationalised banks. However both the governments have remained indifferent to the problems of the farmers, he said.

The farmers across the country have floated “Rashtriya Krishi Sangharsh” involving more than 130 pro-farmer organisations, to put pressure on the respective governments. They have started Janandolana from Madhya Pradesh and would unite the farmers of all the states to fight for their rights, he added.

He demanded that the district officials start disbursing the crop insurance for kharif last year, released by the Centre, failing which protests would be held, he warned.

Rasta Roko
In the meantime, the KRRS and Hasiru Sene district unit has warned of staging rasta roko in Dharwad on July 10.

In a meeting held at Mansur Matt on Tuesday, the farmer leaders have decided to block the NH 4 near Narendra Cross demanding the government to fulfil their long pending demands.

The demands included implementation of Kalasa-Banduri Nala work, total crop loan waiver, release of crop insurance and supply water from Kali river to Dharwad district.