Farmers hit the streets of the city on Wednesday demanding the waiver of agricultural loans taken by them in view of the severe drought which has gripped the state. Raitha Sangha president Kodihalli Chandrashekar who led the rally from the City railway station to Vidhana Soudha, and other leaders were arrested when they tried to move towards the Soudha. Following police intervention, the farmers staged a dharna at Freedom Park.
Agriculture secretary Babu Rao Mudbi who met the farmers’ leaders at Freedom Park, promised them that Chief Minister was ready for talks on the issue in a day or two. The Sangha later withdrew its protest on the request made by the government. “Farmers are in distress because of the drought. The government has failed to come to their rescue in drought hit areas. The government can help them by waiving their crop loans”, Mr Chandrashekar said. “With the CM agreeing to hold talks with us, we withdrew our protest on the request made by the agriculture secretary. If the government fails to waive the loans, we will hit the streets again”, he warned.