Pic: Farmers interact with Belagavi DC after staging a protest on TuesdayBelagavi: Hundreds of farmers staged a protest in Belagavi on Tuesday, demanding that legal action be taken against the management body of Jai Kisan Private Wholesale Vegetable Traders Association for illegally continuing trading operations, despite the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) cancelling its trade licence. Hundreds of farmers from the Bharatiya Krishik Samaj (BKS) and Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha marched from Channamma Circle to the DC’s office premises and staged a dharna.Farmers demanded that legal action be taken against the Jai Kisan Wholesale Vegetable Traders Association for trading in violation of the order of the director of APMC and that illegal market business be stopped immediately. Farmers shouted slogans that the govt should immediately come to the rescue of farmers and save the govt’s APMC. They then submitted a memorandum to the govt through the deputy commissioner.Sidagouda Modagi, the district president of the BKS, stated that due to the illegal collection of commission from farmers, trading in unauthorised products, and improper maintenance of documents and facilities, the govt cancelled the licence of Jai Kisan Wholesale Vegetable Traders’ Association under Section 72-D of the Karnataka Agricultural Produce Market (Regulation and Development) Act, 1966. However, the traders of the private vegetable market are continuing their business in violation of the statutory orders. This not only weakens the authority of the govt but also paves the way for continuous exploitation of the farmers who are deprived of fair and transparent market practices. The govt should immediately close the premises of the private vegetable market. They also demanded that punitive action be initiated against the traders.Farmer leaders Chunappa Pujeri and social activist Sujit Mulgund were present.Traders argue with APMC officialsOn the other side, in the wake of the cancellation of the trade licences of the Jai Kisan market, officials on Tuesday morning persuaded farmers to move from the private market to the APMC market. During this, traders had an argument with APMC officials. The officials went to the spot and informed the farmers about the matter. The traders raised an argument over this. Then a heated argument took place between the officials and the Jai Kisan market traders.Police security has been deployed at the entrance to the Jai Kisan market.
