The ongoing farmers’ agitation over sharing the Mahadayi river waters that entered the 105{+t}{+h}day on Wednesday received support from State government employees who took part in the agitation at Nargund.
Staff take leave
Led by president of the Karnataka State Government Employees Association B.P. Manje Gowda, several government employees availed themselves of leave to be part of the agitation.
Addressing the protestors, Mr. Manje Gowda said that despite limitation on leave and legal restrictions, the government employees would support the farmers’ agitation.
He said that it was regrettable that both the Union and State governments had failed to solve the issue, though the agitation was going on since over three months.
He urged the Chief Minister to prevail upon Goa government and also the Prime Minister to find an early solution to the long-pending problem. He said that the employees would be forced to take to the streets if the issue was not resolved quickly.
The association’s district unit president, Ravi Gunjikar, said that for the first time the government employees were participating in the agitation by availing themselves of privilege leave for supporting farmers.
Several office-bearers of the State, district and taluk units of the association took part in the dharna.
Earlier, the employees took out a protest march from the Nargund Town Municipal Council to the venue of the farmers’ agitation which is being carried out under the aegis of a non-political forum of farmers.
Bike rally
On the occasion, 600 government employees took out a motorcycle rally from Ron to Nargund.
