A prominent link in the chain of farmers’ movement in Karnataka has been lost with the death of farmers’ leader K. S. Puttannaiah on Sunday. This is how members cutting across party affiliations in both the Houses of the State legislature termed the death of Melukote MLA Puttannaiah while paying rich tributes to him on Monday.
In the Assembly, Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda noted that Puttannaiah had emerged as a prominent farmers’ leader after the demise of M.D. Nanjundaswamy who spearheaded the farmers’ movement.
Though he hailed from Cauvery basin, Puttannaiah had never confined himself to the Cauvery basin and instead, he had influence as well as contacts throughout the State. Interestingly, he did not discriminate between farmers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu when it came to the inter-state row over sharing of Cauvery river water. “He was part of the Cauvery Family, a group of farmers and academicians from both the States, to help resolve the Cauvery row,” Mr. Gowda pointed out.
Describing Puttannaiah as “an asset of Karnataka farming sector”, the Minister said his death was a loss to farmers.
Law Minister T.B. Jayachandra recalled how Puttannaiah used to bring pressure on government to implement the proposed Mekedatu balancing river project.
Describing Puttannaiah as a leader who spoke on behalf of farmers in the Assembly, Mr. Jayachandra hoped that more such leaders would enter the House in a bid to protect the interests of farmers.
Both the Houses of the State Legislature were adjourned for the day after paying homage to Puttannaiah.
He had demanded a pay commission for farmers
The Legislative Assembly on Monday recalled how Puttannaiah used to demand a pay commission for farmers to ensure that every farmer gets some payment from the government every month on the lines of government servants.
Several members noted that Puttannaiah used to maintain that such a pay commission was the right of farmers as they too worked hard to take care of the country’s food security.
