BJP workers took out a protest rally, in response to the Statewide bandh call given by the party, demanding the JD(S)-Congress coalition government waive farm loans, here on Monday.
Early in the day, BJP supporters, wearing green shawls went around appealing to shopkeepers and business owners. The response to the call was poor. Public transport services ran as normal. Schools and offices functioned. Except on main streets, shops also remained open for the day.
After many years, the BJP managed to gather a huge crowd for a protest in Hassan. This time Hassan Assembly segment elected BJP MLA Preetham Gowda, who led the protest. The protesters assembled at the Deputy Commissioner’s office after a march on the main streets. A few from nearby villages participated in bullock carts and tractors. They raised slogans criticising Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy for not waiving farm loans within 24 hours of coming to power, as he had promised during the election campaign. As the protest march reached N.R. Circle, traffic on B.M. Road was badly hit.
In a memorandum addressed to the Governor, the protesters said, “The CM had announced that the loans would be waived within 24 hours of his taking charge. But he backtracked from his assurance on the day he took the oath.” The party workers said, “Kumaraswamy, who earlier held the post of Chief Minister with the support of BJP for 20 months, did not support BJP to hold the post as per the understanding between the two parties. Now, again he has cheated the public on the issue of farm loans.”
