Shivamogga: BJP state president BY Vijayendra led a protest march on Friday in Shikaripura, urging the state govt to immediately address a severe agricultural crisis.Hundreds of farmers, party workers and local activists gathered to draw attention to mounting rural distress caused by power shortages and severe rainfall deficits. The foot march commenced this morning from the Shikaripura taluk BJP office and traversed through major thoroughfares before converging outside the taluk office. Demonstrators chanted slogans demanding state interventions to protect livelihoods of farmers in the region.A primary reason for the protest is the erratic electricity supply across the taluk. Demonstrators stressed that local agricultural pumpsets require a guaranteed seven hours of uninterrupted power supply daily to maintain basic crop health. Furthermore, protesters called on the govt to direct sufficient power toward local lift irrigation systems to replenish dried-up tanks and lakes across Shikaripura.Highlighting widespread crop stress and deficit rainfall, functionaries at the rally urged the state govt to officially designate Shikaripura taluk as a drought-hit region and roll out financial assistance packages.Vijayendra, who represents the Shikaripura assembly segment, questioned why the administration declared neighbouring Bhadravati as drought-affected while leaving Shikaripura without similar relief measures.Addressing the gathering outside the taluk office during a public meeting, the protesters warned that if the state administration fails to provide seven hours of daily continuous power, the agitation will escalate into a long-distance march from Shikaripura to Shivamogga. Protesters also voiced concerns regarding administrative hurdles in local ration shop e-KYC updates and delays in educational scholarship distributions. They called for immediate administrative resolution.
