Devanahalli farmers to launch indefinite strike in Bengaluru from Friday; CM agrees for meeting on July 4

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Thursday, announced that he would meet the farmers who are on a protracted struggle demanding shelving of land acquisition for the proposed aerospace park in Devanahalli taluk on July 4.

However, the farmers refused to call off their agitation over the mere promise of holding a meeting. Stating they would not end their struggle till the government drops the land acquisition completely, the farmers have now decided to launch an indefinite day-and-night dharna from Friday at the Freedom Park in Bengaluru along with people from various walks of life who have offered their support to them.

The farmers have been staging protest in Devanahalli for the last 1,180 days seeking dropping of acquisition of 1,777 acres in 13 villages of Devanahalli taluk.

Earlier in the day, the farmers expressed anguish over the manner in which the police detained them during the Devanahalli chalo protest held on Wednesday. The police had detained over 200 farmers during the public meeting.

Taking exception to this, the farmers’ leaders submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday, accusing the police of treating farmers, who were fighting for justice, as criminals. The farmers’ leaders met the Chief Minister along with noted actor Prakash Raj to seek action against the police and also to press for their demand of shelving land acquisition.

Meanwhile, the farmers and social activists, along with people from various walks of life, also staged a dharna at the Freedom Park, condemning the police action. “The government has tried to suppress the protest of Devanahalli farmers by using excessive police force. We are shocked to see that all the leaders, including women, being dragged and detained in a barbaric manner,” the farmers said in their memorandum to the Chief Minister.