People take to the streets

Farmers target three buildings in Navalgund; BJP MP’s office ransacked in Gadag

For use in the issue of July 28 The news about the rejection of the interim plea of Karnataka by the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal’s (MWDT) spread like a wild fire leading to protests in the North Karnataka districts. A protest at Kittur Chennamma circle in Hubballi on Wednesday subsequently led to bandh like atmosphere in central business district of the city.

The rejection of Karnataka’s interim plea by the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT) triggered tension in north Karnataka districts of Dharwad, Gadag, Belagavi, and Bagalkot as a large number of people took to streets to register their protest and resorted to violence in a few places.

There was violence in Navalgund in Dharwad district, where an indefinite agitation seeking early implementation of the Kalasa–Banduri Nala project is on for almost a year. Farmers targeted three buildings housing two government departments, a bank and the local JMFC court. While stones were pelted at the Public Works Department office, the bank and the JMFC court, the office of the Irrigation Department was ransacked by the angry protesters. An attempt by the protesters to ransack a bus depot was thwarted by the police.

In Gadag, the office of Haveri MP Shivakumar Udasi (BJP) was ransacked by protesters who alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party was playing politics over the long-pending issue. The protesters also targeted the Gadag City Municipal Council office and a sub-registrar’s office.

Bandh in towns

While Hubballi, Dharwad and Belagavi cities witnessed protests, Bailhongal, Ramdurg and Saundatti towns in Belagavi district observed a bandh within an hour after reports of Karnataka’s plea being rejected the MWDT reached the towns.

Farmers came out in large numbers in Ramdurg, Saundatti and Bailhongal towns and staged protests against the alleged “injustice” delivered by the MWDT. They raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, NDA government at the Centre and all the 28 MPs from the State. Around 50 farmers, who were trying to block National Highway 4 (Pune–Bengaluru), courted arrest in Belagavi.

NH out of bounds

Following farmers’ protests, National Highway 218 between Hubballi and Vijayapura, which passes through Naragund — the epicentre of the yearlong indefinite agitation, remained out of bounds for motorists.

Kittur Chennamma Circle in Hubballi and Jubilee Circle in Dharwad witnessed a large gathering of protesters. Fearing violence, shopkeepers downed shutters in the central business district of Hubballi.

While there were no State RTC buses on the road because of the strike by union members (which was withdrawn in the evening), Bendre Transport Service, a private bus operator, withdrew its services in the twin cities in the evening.

Around 50 farmers, who were trying to block National Highway 4, court arrest in Belagavi