Traffic on the busy Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway was severely affected on Tuesday with scores of farmers and youth Janata Dal (Secular) members blocking vehicles in Maddur and the town, demanding water to canals.
Over 150 farmers, including senior Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) leaders, were detained in the town for blocking traffic. This resulted in heated arguments between the KRRS members and police personnel.
Both the KRRS and JD(S) youth wing had separately organised protests to demand Cauvery water to canals from the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir for agricultural activities and to fill up lakes and waterbodies. While the KRRS protest was held near M. Visvesvaraya Statue, off the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway in the town, the JD(S) agitation was organised near the Travellers Bungalow Circle on the same highway in Maddur.
Traffic was paralysed in Mandya and Maddur for nearly an hour following the protests.
Hundreds of farmers gathered near the statue and shouted slogans demanding water to the canals. They blocked the highway by squatting and sleeping on both the lanes. This led to a huge traffic pile-up on the highway.
Police personnel who were already present at the venue had a tough time as they had to forcefully move the agitators from the highway.
A human chain was formed at the TB circle in Maddur. The JD(S) workers also took out a motorcycle rally and staged a demonstration on the highway. Party workers, led by Madhu Bangarappa, shouted slogans against the State government for not meeting the demands of farmers. However, the JD(S) workers withdrew their protest later.
Meanwhile, G. Made Gowda, former MP and Cauvery agitator, threatened to intensify the agitation if the government did not agree to the farmers’ demands. He said a demonstration would be staged outside the Chief Minister’s residence in Bengaluru shortly.
