DEMONSTRATION: Farmers staging a dharna outside the Deputy Commissioner's office in Hassan on Tuesday.

HASSAN: Hundreds of villagers from nine villages around Hassan- Bommanaikanahalli, Doddabasavanahalli, Kasturavalli, Gavenahalli, Bustenahalli, Kachanaikanahalli, Dodda Honnenahalli, Kenchatnalli and Samudravalli- took out a procession in Hassan and later staged a dharna before the Deputy Commissioner's office on Tuesday.

They demanded that their land not be acquired as they were small and marginal farmers and most of their land had already been acquired for a ring road, the KHB Colony and for industrial purposes. The Karnataka State Industrial Development Board had issued a notification to acquire 1,000 acres of land in these villages and had given a month's time for objections to be filed, if any.

Addressing the agitators, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha vice-president Veerasangaiah advised the farmers to fight together to protect their land, keeping aside their political affiliations.

Mr. Veerasangaiah attacked the Union Government and said when the State Government announced a loan waiver for farmers, the Congress, which is the Opposition in the State, did not convince the Centre to waive loans taken by farmers from nationalised banks as well, he said. He said all Governments, in the State and Centre, had failed to protect the interests of farmers. For special economic zones, too much land was being acquired in Hassan, he added.

He said with computerisation there was less demand for manual labour. Farmers may get compensation for their land, but they were unable to secure jobs. He said no industry could produce food. The industrial policy of the Union Government was aimed at giving a red carpet welcome only for foreign companies, he added.

The farmers submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner to not to acquire their land.

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