Around 132 out of the total 149 farmers arrested during the protest against the Mahadayi verdict and lodged in Ballari central jail were released on Saturday. Their release came after 16 days following conditional bail by Dharwad district court on Friday.
“Our struggle seeking water from Mahadayi to Malaprabha would continue until the goal was reached”, Loknath Hebsur, president of Federation of Kalasa-Banduri Nala Horata Samiti, told The Hindu after walking out of jail. The further course of action would be chalked out in consultation with the farmer leaders of nine taluks of Gadag, Dharwad, Belagavi and Bagalkot districts.
He alleged that the State government failed to present the case properly and effectively before the Tribunal for getting drinking water. Reiterating that farmers had lost confidence in the Tribunal, he urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to abolish it, and to intervene and resolve the dispute amicably.
He said a final decision on filing a complaint against police excesses before the police complaint authority would be taken at the proposed meeting of the federation to be held shortly.
The farmers were received by several leaders including N.H. Konreddy, MLA; Pratap Reddy, Congress leader; Srinivas, district Janata dal (S) president; and Purushotam Goud, KRRS district unit president, with sweets.
