Bengaluru/Belagavi: As many as 95 organisations, mainly farmer groups, have submitted applications seeking permission to stage protests near Suvarna Vidhana Soudha (SVS) in Belagavi as the winter session of the legislature begins in the north Karnataka city Monday.The state administration has prepared designated protest sites, including Suvarna Garden and a hill near Konduskoppa, to accommodate demonstrators.Among the planned protests, BJP has announced a farmers’ sit-in at SVS Tuesday, with an estimated 15,000-20,000 participants. The party’s state president BY Vijayendra said the protest will target the “farmer-unfriendly” Congress govt and demand a comprehensive development of north Karnataka.At a press conference in Bengaluru, Vijayendra highlighted pressing issues ahead of the session, urging discussions on north Karnataka problems, farmers’ hardships, and irrigation challenges. He cited delays in gate installation at the Tungabhadra reservoir, which prevented farmers from sowing second crops, and demanded compensation of Rs 25,000 per acre for affected people. He also noted that sugarcane growers’ problems remain unresolved and that ragi farmers produced 5.4 million tons without any procurement centers being initiated by the govt. While chief minister Siddaramaiah has ordered the purchase of 0.5 million tons through procurement centers, those for pulses, green gram, and rice remain pending.Other protests planned during the session include a demonstration by Panchamasali reservation activists on Dec 10, condemning last year’s police action, and additional farmer protests the next day. Authorities expect several more demonstrations throughout the session.Belagavi police and the district administration are coordinating to manage the events. The north Karnataka city police commissioner, Bhushan Gulabrao Borase, warned of traffic disruptions, noting that 16,000 vehicles, including trucks and buses, pass through the highway daily. Over 6,000 police personnel, including six IPS officers, have been deployed, with prohibitory orders under BNS 163 clamped covering a 3km radius around SVS. Drones will be used for surveillance.Deputy commissioner Mohammad Roshan said efforts will be made to resolve issues related to protest permits and reduce the number of demonstrations. District SP Bhimashankar Guled emphasised vigilance to prevent untoward incidents, stating that no permission has been granted to MES to hold protests and strict legal action will be taken against those creating chaos or riots.Since 2012, winter sessions have seen 27 cases of violence or disruption, resulting in injuries to 73 police personnel and 21 civilians. Authorities are taking measures to avoid such incidents this year.
