Mysuru: Farmers protest grand Dasara celebrations amid drought, demand higher compensation
Mangalore Today News Network
Mysuru, Oct 2, 2026: Farmers staged a protest in Mysuru on Thursday against the grand Dasara celebrations, citing the prevailing drought and what they described as inadequate ex gratia for farmers affected by crop losses. They demanded a farm loan waiver across Karnataka and compensation based on a scientific assessment of production costs and losses.
The protesters warned of statewide agitations if their demands were not addressed.
Karnataka State Farmers’ Association (Raita Bana) state president Ingalaguppe Krishnegowda, who led the protest outside the Mysuru District Commissioner’s office, accused the state government of being “anti-farmer”.
He questioned the decision to spend large sums on Dasara celebrations during a drought. He said funds being spent on various events, including Kambala and Cauvery Arathi at Brindavan Gardens, could instead have been used as drought relief for farmers.
Krishnegowda also criticised the Rs 2,500 ex gratia announced for drought-affected farmers, saying the amount was inadequate even to meet the interest burden on agricultural loans. He demanded compensation of Rs 25,000 per acre for dryland crops and Rs 50,000 per acre for irrigated land.
He also urged the government to involve representatives of farmers’ organisations in future meetings and discussions concerning the agricultural sector.
Krishnegowda alleged that several civil works undertaken in Mysuru were of poor quality and demanded a Lokayukta probe. He also sought the release of detailed accounts of last year’s Dasara expenditure, alleging that the festival had become an opportunity for contractors and middlemen to profit.
He further raised the issue of representation of Dalit seers in the inauguration of Mysuru Dasara and urged the government to provide a Dalit seer an opportunity to inaugurate the festival in the future.
The farmers took out a protest march from Chamundi Guest House, garlanded the statues of Dr B R Ambedkar and Dr Rajkumar at Town Hall and proceeded to the DC’s office, where they raised slogans against the government and submitted a memorandum.
Farmer leaders Beerappa Deshanur, Basavanagowda, Chinakurali Somegowda, retired DySP Nanjappa, Lokesh from Vijayanagar district, Siddappaji Nayak, H Prasad, Draksha Shivaram and Yogesh, among others, participated in the protest.
The protesters also alleged that police initially prevented them from sitting near the steps of the DC’s office. They further claimed that a food van was asked to leave the premises and that they were stopped from playing the traditional Tamate drum. Following a verbal exchange with police, the food van was subsequently allowed to enter the DC office compound.