Bangalore : Hundreds of farmers who attempted to picket the Vidhana Saudha were arrested on Monday June 23. The farmers  led by Raitha Sangha leader Kodihalli  Chandrashekhar were protesting to pressurise the government to announce support price for sugarcane.

Farmers who went on a procession from the Bangalore Railway station in the morning, shouted  slogans denouncing the government. Earlier, addressing the protestors,  Chandrashekhar accused the government of failing to respond to the problems of the farmers. The government is anti-farmer, he alleged.

“The farmers have been pressurising the government since long to clear arrears but  of no avail. Now  they have arrested us while protesting, “he said.

Two days ago, CM  Siddaramaiah who had invited farmer leaders for talks had assured to release the pending Rs 350 crores. He had also directed the authorities to serve notices on sugar factories which erred in providing support price to the growers. But when no action followed, the  sugarcane growers resorted to protest.