Farmers stage protest, organize bandh in Sindhanur demanding purchase of corn
Sindhanur: The Sindhanur taluk bandh call given by various organizations in support of farmers demanding the purchase of corn received excellent response on Monday, with several businessmen keeping their shops closed.
Members of CPIML (Liberation), Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Sindhanur taluk unit, pro-farmer and pro-Kannada organizations, business associations, taluk lawyers’ association and contractors’ associations were among the organizations that participated in the bandh on Monday, as thousands of protesters took out a rally shouting slogans against the state government.
The leaders of the associations said that the state government had not responded to the farmers’ request to open the purchase of corn. They alleged that the urgent measures were being taken to alleviate the situation when the farmers intensified their struggle, which shows that the government was not concerned about farmers.
A similar protest had been staged by farmers last week, parking their truck outside the tahsildar’s office last week. The Lingasugur Assistant Commissioner Basavannappa Kalashetty and tahsildar in-charge Shruti had requested the farmers for four days’ time to respond to the demands, after which, the farmers withdrew their protest. As the government did not take any decision in the matter so far, the farmers expressed their anger with a protest rally on the streets of Sindhanur.
The government has not released the support price to the farmers who registered their names last December, the protesters pointed out, stressing that the officials are at fault for such shortcomings and not the farmers.
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K'taka remains central to Aequs' strategy, says min Patil amid row over firm's investment in TN
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Commerce and Industries Minister M B Patil on Monday asserted that Aequs continues to expand in the state and that its proposed investment in neighbouring Tamil Nadu was a business decision aimed at diversification, not a shift away from Karnataka.
Reacting to criticism on social media over reports that the Karnataka-based firm had signed a major investment deal in Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri district for setting up a specialised aerospace and defense manufacturing cluster, he said the state government was fully aware of the company's plans and remained confident about its long-term commitment to Karnataka.
"While we welcome every major investment in India, would like to clarify a few points," Patil said in a post on 'X'.
Aequs was significantly expanding its footprint within Karnataka, including a Rs 3,000 crore investment in Kolar for electronics manufacturing.
"Its recently approved Rs 1,500 crore ECMS project will also be grounded in the state. Karnataka remains central to its long-term strategy," he said.
Patil added that the government had prior knowledge of the TN proposal.
The government was already informed and aware that the TN investment is a business decision aimed at geographic diversification and de-risking operations, not a shift away from Karnataka.
"Healthy competition between states strengthens India's manufacturing ecosystem," he said.
Emphasising the state's focus on high-technology sectors, Patil said, "We remain committed to deepening Karnataka's leadership in aerospace and advanced manufacturing, and our engagement with industry partners is strong and ongoing."
The Aequs Group has pledged Rs 4,000 crore to bolster Tamil Nadu's aerospace manufacturing capabilities at the SIPCOT-Shoolagiri Industrial Park in Krishnagiri district.
The group proposes to establish a specialised aerospace and defense manufacturing cluster for the production of aircraft engines, gearbox components, and precision engineering parts. This initiative is expected to provide employment to 7,000 individuals.
