Intensifying their agitation against the shifting Agriculture Extension Centre (AEC) from Vijayapura to Muddebihal, a group of farmers have decided to launch indefinite ‘dharna’ at Deputy Commissioner’s from Thursday.
Announcing this at a press conference here on Tuesday, Sanganagouda Patil, one of the conveners of the committee, said that despite their fervent appeals, the University of Agricultural Sciences-Dharwad under which the centre comes, has decided to shift the centre.
He said that the appeal has been made to the district in-charge minister, M. B. Patil and a letter has also been drafted to the governor for intervening in the matter.
Mr. Patil said that the University has taken this decision by succumbing to the pressure of Muddebihal MLA and Karnataka’s special representative to Delhi, C.S. Nadagouda.
If shifted to Muddebihal, it would be difficult for most of the farmers to reach the taluk as it is geographically far from four taluks including, Vijayapura, Indi, Sindagi and Basavanabagewadi, he said.
Mr. Patil said that instead of forcing the University to shift the present centre, the MLA should get a new sub-centre granted for his constituency which would serve the purpose.
Informing that the indefinite dharna would be launched from Thursday to meet their demand, Mr. Patil also warned of converting the agitation into hunger strike as a last resort.
