A farmers’ bandh in Nargund town over the demand for drought-hit status disrupted bus services, closed shops and affected movement on the Hubballi–Vijayapura National Highway before the protest was called off after the Deputy Commissioner received a memorandum and gave assurances.
The bandh was organised under the banner of Mahadayigagi Mahavedike. Farmers protested against the government’s drought-hit list, saying that none of the taluks in the Malaprabha irrigation command area had been included despite severe crop losses and worsening employment conditions.
According to the report, the protest began in the morning and received support from traders and several organisations. Bus operations were affected, with services stopping in Nargund by around 9 am. Buses from nearby towns reportedly returned without entering the town, leaving passengers and students struggling to travel into and out of the town.
The closure of shops also affected access to food and refreshments during the bandh. The disruption showed how a local administrative demand quickly affected the town’s transport links and daily commercial activity.
At around 11 am, farmers led by Shankar Ambali, Shankargowda Patil and others took out a march from the old municipal council premises. The procession moved through the main streets before the protesters blocked the road for about an hour at Shivaji Circle on the Hubballi–Vijayapura National Highway.
The protesters later moved to the designated protest venue, where the agitation continued. Members of various farmers’ organisations, pro-Kannada groups and Dalit organisations participated in the demonstration. Their central demand was the declaration of the region as drought-hit and its inclusion in the government’s drought assessment.
Farmers said their crops had been completely damaged because of the failure of the monsoon. They also said people in the area were facing difficulty finding employment. The demand places the government’s drought-hit list at the centre of the dispute, with protesters questioning why taluks located in the Malaprabha irrigation command area were not included.
The Deputy Commissioner, Sridhara, was scheduled to arrive at 2 pm to receive the farmers’ memorandum. Protesters said they would not withdraw the bandh until the memorandum was accepted. The Deputy Commissioner arrived at around 3 pm and received the document.
Following the assurance given by the Deputy Commissioner, the farmers withdrew their protest and the bandh was called off. The report does not specify the details of the assurance or the next administrative steps on the demand for drought-hit status.
