Farmers withdraw highway blockades in Haveri, Dharwad districts

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Seer of Shirahatti Fakkireshwar Mutt Fakira Dingaleshwara Swami came out strongly in support of agitating farmers at a press conference in Hubballi on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: KIRAN BAKALE

The blockades on the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway by sugarcane growers demanding remunerative price for sugarcane continued for the second day in Haveri and Dharwad districts on Wednesday, resulting in transport vehicles lining up for kilometres together on the national highway.

However, late in the evening, after marathon talks by officials, the farmers relented and agreed to clear the road blocks.

While the farmers blocked the national highway at Bankapur Toll in Haveri district, large number of farmers continued the blockade at Yarikoppa Cross near Dharwad for the second day.

As the protest continued for the second, transport vehicles and public transport buses were the most hit, while light motor vehicles were diverted through circuitous alternative routes.

Truck drivers and helpers resting in the shade of their trucks at Yarikoppa Cross near Dharwad where a highway blockade by sugarcane farmers continued for the second day on Wednesday. The blockade has since been withdrawn. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Senior police and district authorities met the protesting farmers and held talks with them to persuade them to withdraw the protest. The marathon efforts finally yielded results in the evening with the farmers relenting a bit and agreeing to clear the road blockades on Wednesday night.

The protesting farmers were joined by Fakira Dingaleshwar Swami of Shirahatti Fakkireshwar Mutt at Yarikoppa Cross.

Joining the sit in at the protest venue, the seer took exception to the apathy of the Union government and Union Ministers in resolving the issue.

The protest by sugarcane growers was led by president of the Haveri District Sugarcane Growers Association Bhuvaneshwar Shidlapur at Bankapur Toll in Haveri district.

On Wednesday night, the farmers decided to withdraw the road blockade. They will now march to Dharwad on Thursday. Earlier in the day advocates from Shiggaon taluk met the farmers to express solidarity with them.

Due to the highway blockade, the services of public transport buses on the National Highway were hit and scores of commuters faced hardships.

At Yarikoppa Cross, hundreds of trucks were lined up on the highway from Tuesday morning.