Mangaluru: The Bharat Bandh call given by Samyukta Kisan Morcha in protest against farm laws evoked poor response in Dakshina Kannada (DK) and Udupi districts on Monday.
Private, KSRTC buses, autorickshaws, and taxis operated as usual in the districts. The call for bandh was restricted to a series of protests in Mangaluru city and other parts of Dakshina Kannada district.
Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha, Dalita Sanghatanegala Samanvaya Samithi, DYFI, CITU and others staged a road block at B C Road.
Raitha Sangha General Secretary Ravikirana Punacha said besides protesting against the farm laws, the protesters will raise their voice against high tension electricity line being drawn to Kerala from Udupi, installation of smart meter for electricity and poor compensation for acquisition of land for Mangaluru-Karkala highway.
DK Private Bus Operators Association President Jayasheela Adyantaya said the association had extended moral support to the farmers’ protest. But buses were operated as usual keeping the interests of public in mind.
Supporting the farmers, the labourers under the aegis of Bunder Shramikara Sangha staged a protest by suspending work for a few hours in Mangaluru.
Karnataka Rajya Hamali Workers’ Federation President and CITU State Secretary K Mahanthesh said farmers had been protesting against the farm laws in New Delhi and surrounding areas for the past 10 months. But BJP government has failed to hold talks with the farmers and tried to suppress the protest.
The farm laws will favour the corporate firms trading in agricultural produce and there is a fear of fertile lands being taken away by corporate companies. The modified labour laws will also take away rights of farmers. Bunder Shramika Sangha President Willi Wilson, Secretary Imthiyaz and others were present.
Opposing the farm laws, the SDPI had staged a protest by blocking the highway in Uppinangady. SDPI leader Victor M said that the farm laws will not benefit the farmers. There is a need to protest against the farm laws, he added.