S.K. Kanta, former Labour Minister, and leaders of farmers’ organisations, who were detained by the police after they tried to barge into the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Friday, spent the night in the police van even after they were released.
As many as 21 leaders including Maruti Manpade, KPRS State president, Maula Mulla, AIKS leader, Sharanabasappa, Santosh Rathod, Ashok Myageri, and Shanth Kumar, who were arrested when they attempted to break into the DC’s office, spent more than 24 hours in the police van. Mr. Kanta refused to get off the van till their demands were met.
The protesters got off the van on Saturday evening after Medical Education Minister Sharanprakash Patil assured them a meeting would be arranged with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at Bengaluru on Monday to address their issues.
Their major demand was additional red gram procurement of 3.25 lakh tones against the target of 1.75 lakh tones fixed by the government, and to extend the procurement date to April 30, 2017.
