Vijayapura: In response to the call given by United Kisan Morcha to hold a three-hour-long Highway bandh across the country on February 6, the members Akhil Bharat Raita Sangharsha Samanvaya Samiti to join the stir by staging dharna at Sevalal circle near Sindgi bypass between 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm.

In a press conference on Thursday, various farmers’ and communist leaders said that “the associations have decided to extend their support to ongoing agitation in Delhi for over two months”.

Veteran leader, Bhimshi Kaladagi said that while the national body of farmers has called for a three-hour bandh at national highways, various farmers’ unions of the country have expressed solidarity with the agitators.

Expressing anguish over the BJP government for putting barricades at the Delhi-Haryana border to prevent the farmers from marching towards Delhi, Kaladagi said that it is nothing a clear sign of dictatorship which wishes to suppress every voice of protest against the government.

Accusing some pro-government media channels and supporters of the BJP of trying to create tension during the tractor rally on January 26 to defame the farmers, he said that certain media houses are working like slaves of the government.

 “ The media whose job is to protect the rights of the people and raise voice against the government if it is acting against the interests of the people. but sadly it is working against the common people. This is a sheer irresponsible act of some media houses who are calling the farmers anti-nationals”, he said.

He Mentioned that several international celebrities have been lending support to the protest of the farmers, the so-called celebrities of India are either keeping mum or trolling the international leaders themselves.

Alleging that the BJP government has stopped the supply of water, the power supply has been cut off and the internet has been suspended at the protest site in Delhi, he said that the government has resorted to cheap acts to curb the protest.

Lamenting that never such open efforts were ever made by any government in the past to oppose farmers’ protest this intensely, Kaladagi said that the BJP government has reached its height of arrogance.

He said that the protest is being held to demand the government to repeal three farm laws, release all vehicles that were seized during the agitation and release all protestors arrested by the police.

He demanded the release of all journalists who have been arrested by the government for filing articles against the government and allow the protestors to hold peaceful agitation by removing all barricades being installed by the police.

B. Bhagwan Reddy, Prakash Hitnalli, Arvind Kulkarni, Shaktikumar, Sujata Shinde and Balu Jevoor and others were present.

 Photo Courtesy: Firoz Rozindar