VIDEO: Farmers Protest Against Karnataka Government Over Hemavathi Express Link Canal, Set Tyres On Fire

Tumakuru: A massive protest broke out in Karnataka's Tumakuru against the Siddaramaiah-led government in the state against the Hemavathi Express Link Canal Project near Gubbi on Saturday. The protest was staged by farmer organisations, reported PTI. Members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also reportedly joined the agitation.

The protesters blocked the road and burnt tyres. Notably, the project aims to divert water to Magadi and Ramanagara. Some of the protesters were detained by the police.

Protesters Burning Tyres:

As per the news agency, MLAs who joined the protest include B Suresh Gowda, GB Jyothi Ganesh. A group of seers from different religious Maths participated in the protest. They raised anti-government slogans.

The protesters termed the government's plan to divert the Hemavathi canal water to the neighbouring Bengaluru South district (Ramanagara) despite public opposition as "unscientific".

As per the protesters, the project will be detrimental to several taluks of Tumakuru district.

A heavy police deployment has been made in the area to avoid any untoward incident.