BELAGAVI: Irked over the alleged negligence of the government in responding to farmers demand, a farmer climbed a mobile tower located in front of Suvarna Vidhan Soudha (SVS) and threatened to commit suicide if the demands of farmers are not met within an hour, in Belagavi on Wednesday.
Chandrashekar is a sugarcane grower hailing from Kalapalga village in Kunigal taluk of Tumukuru district. He is one of the farmers who has been protesting for the last two days. At about 4.30 pm, Chandrashekar climbed up the mobile tower and at about 5 pm, police and other people realised that he was sitting on the top. Police tried to convince him with the help of a speaker to climb down. However, Chandrashekar refused and said he would only climb down after the government accepts to meet the demands of the farmers.
Fire brigade personnel tried to get near the tower but Chandrashekhar responded by threatening to commit suicide due to which they stopped. Kunigal MLA D Nagarajaiah along with a few other MLAs rushed to the spot and tried to convince him. But Chandrashekhar refused and gave a deadline of 6 pm to the government to meet the demands.
Later, JD(S) state H D Kumarswamy rushed to the spot and spoke to Chandrashekhar, taking him in confidence. Kumarswamy said that he will also support the farmers and will do the needful to ensure that the government meets their demands. Responding to the assurance, Chandrashekhar climbed down the tower, after which police took him in to custody.