The former Union Minister and BJP leader Babagouda Patil has condemned the police action against the agitating farmers in Navalgund on Thursday and demanded that Home Minister G. Parameshwara resign from his post.
Speaking to presspersons here on Friday, Mr. Patil, who also heads the Akhil Karnataka Raitha Sangha, a farmers organisation, said that the farmers resorted to agitation as the Mahadayi River Water Dispute Tribunal (MRWDT) rejected the State’s plea for an interim order.
However, the way in which the police treated them was highly condemnable. The farmers were treated by the police in the most inhuman way. Not only did they pick up farmers from their houses to detain them, they also brutally assaulted them. Has the Government told the police to commit atrocities against the farmers? he asked.
Mr. Patil said that the government should first initiate disciplinary action against the police officials who were responsible for assaulting the farmers. Besides, Dr. Parameshwara should resign on moral grounds as he had failed to discharge his duties as Home Minister in this case, he said.
Mr. Patil reminded the government that whenever people in power resorted to curb any farmers movement using force, such governments were dethroned. Farmers do not come onto to the streets without any cause or reason. The government should understand their sentiments and deal with them in a righteous manner, he said.
Mr. Patil also visited the farmers who have been lodged at the Central Prison here.
