B.Y. Vijayendra, the Karnataka BJP unit chief and a sitting MLA, just announced that farmers will launch a massive demonstration on the morning of Tuesday, December 9, at the Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi, and that they will gherao the building.
Speaking to reporters after touring the protest site—Malini City Ground—Vijayendra said that lawmakers from the district, local council members, and farmers from Belagavi and its neighbouring areas will take part. He projects that 20 000 to 25 000 people will join the march.
The party leader slammed the Congress government’s anti‑farmer stance, arguing that it is “acting like a blind and deaf person despite having eyes and ears.” He added, “They blame the Centre when asked about compensation.”
Vijayendra expressed disappointment that the state government has not taken responsibility and that the sugarcane growers’ concerns remain unresolved. While the central government has set a minimum support price of ₹2,400 for maize, many farmers are selling their crop for only ₹1,500‑₹1,600 because the state has repeatedly failed to open procurement centres on time.
He also said that issues affecting cotton and tur dal farmers would be on the agenda of the upcoming protest. He criticised the internal power struggle over the Chief Minister’s position, saying, “The internal conflict related to the position of the Chief Minister is having a negative impact on the state. The state government continues to blame the Centre to cover up its failures.”
According to Vijayendra, sugarcane growers, maize farmers, paddy farmers, and tur dal cultivators are all suffering due to the state’s neglect. He reminded that the Congress party had promised to eradicate unemployment and create jobs for hundreds of thousands of youths in the elections, but those promises have yet to materialise.
He added that the assembly session would cover weaver welfare and broader development plans, and that irrigation projects for North Karnataka would also be discussed.
When asked a question, he said, “Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are masters at deflecting attention. They blame the Centre at every opportunity to cover up the state government’s failures and are prolific in writing letters to the Prime Minister. Meanwhile, they’s forgotten they’re holding the reins of governance in Karnataka.” He accused them of staging this drama to hide their shortcomings and said the issue would be taken up in the assembly.
Opposition Leader R. Ashoka declared that the opposition would raise its voice in support of the agitating farmers. He added, “BJP and former CM B. S. Yediyurappa have always worked for farmers’ welfare. BJP has grown through protests and will raise its voice in the assembly.”
Other leaders in attendance included Leader of the Opposition Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, senior BJP leaders P. Rajeev, C. T. Ravi, Vithal Halagekar, Abhay Patil, Anil Benake, Sanjay Patil, Sharannu Talikeri, Geeta Sutar, Subhash Patil, M. B. Jirali and Aravind Patil, among others.
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