Pro-farmer organisations backed by a number of other social and political outfits today staged protests across Karnataka over the amendments to the APMC and land reforms act.
The demonstrations were against two important amendments to the Karnataka Land Reforms Act and the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee Act passed by the Karnataka Assembly despite strong objection by the opposition parties, mainly the Congress and JD(S).
The amendment to the KLR Act lifts restrictions on purchasing agricultural land and enables any individual to purchase it.
Earlier, the law permitted only the farmers to purchase agricultural land in the state.
The repeal of certain provisions in the APMC Act through an amendment allows private players to directly purchase agriculture produce from farmers, which was prohibited earlier.
The protesters alleged that these laws will ruin the agriculture sector as people with moneybags will purchase agricultural land to convert their black money into white and turn agriculture land into real estate business.
Here are the live updates on farmers' protest:
The Goa Congress on Monday held a protest at Raj Bhavan against the Centre's farm bills which were cleared by Parliament recently and got the president's assent.
A group of former public servants on Monday backed the farm reform laws enacted by the Modi government and claimed that "disinformation" is being spread over the issue to negatively impact the morale of farmers.
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Monday said common farmers are with the government as the recently passed agriculture laws are beneficial for them.
Farmers groups in Karnataka have called for a statewide bandh today to protest five controversial agriculture-related legislations - three passed by parliament last week (and signed into law by President Ram Nath Kovind today) and two passed by the state Assembly on Saturday.