Cong. to stage state-wide protest on June 16 against police firing

Bangalore, June 12(UNI) Congress in Karnataka will stage a one-day Statewide protest on June 16 in protest against recent police firing in Haveri in which one person was killed and several others injured and also demanding Judicial probe into the firing.

Stating this at a press conference here today, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also Opposition Leader in the Legislative Assembly alleged that the party workers would stage dharna and picket all the Deputy Commissioner offices in the Districts on Monday.

Mr Kharge alleged that the BJP government has totally failed to handle the farmers agitation due to inadequate supply of Fertiliser and trying to mislead the public by alleging that 'no farmers were involved in agitation and dubbed all those who were on street demanding fertilisers as anti-social elements'.

"The Chief Minister who had taken oath of office in the name of Farmers has started to target them and trying to silence them by using brutal police force," Mr Kharge charged.

Mr Kharge demanded the Chief Minister to make it clear whether the person killed and injured are anti-social elements or farmers.

He said that he visited the deceased farmer's house and handed over a demand draft for Rs two lakhs on behalf of KPCC.

Criticising Chief Minister Yeddyurappa for trying to politicise the farmers agitation, Mr Kharge opined that the protest by farmers against the state government was spontaneous and no political parties are behind it. "Let the government order for an Judicial inquiry into the firing incident to unravel the truth" he challenged.

Mr Kharge said that the Chief Minister changing stand on the availability of fertiliser has also contributed largely for fueling the farmers agitation. "One day Yeddyurappa had stated that there is sufficient stock of fertiliser and very next day he himself had contradicted his-own words, has created uncertainty over the issue which led violent agitation", he said. The state government has committed a grave crime against farming community by gunning down an innocent farmer, the Government was directly responsible." UNI MV MSP SKB1823