Farmers protest in Dharwad against privatization of electricity supply

Farmers whipping on the road with a whip (barukola) during a protest against the state government’s announced move to privatize electricity supply. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Scores of farmers took to the streets on Tuesday and blocked a road in Dharwad to protest against the state government’s announced move to privatize electricity supply and also to meet various pending demands.

Farmers under the aegis of Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangh and Hasiru Sene took out a protest march from Kadapa Maidan to Jubilee Circle where they formed a human chain and blocked the intersection for some time to register their protest.

Several farmers protested with whips (barukola).

Farmers are upset that the state government has allowed Tata Power Company Limited’s application for a parallel electricity distribution license, which they say will eventually lead to the privatization of electricity supply.

Leading the protest, District President of Raita Sangha Rarooq Killedar, Vice President of Maruti Sunkad said that granting parallel power distribution license will eventually lead to privatization of the power sector.

They said that free supply of irrigation pumps and other benefits given to farmers would end after privatization and urged the state government to continue with the existing system.

The farmers then submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister through the officials of the district administration.

In the memorandum, they demanded the inclusion of maize, green gram, red gram and mango plantation in the crop insurance area. They also demanded that the year be declared a “drought year” because the rainfall had decreased.

The farmers also demanded the intervention of the state government to stop harassment of farmers by bank officials and representatives of microfinance companies.

Published – 23 Jun 2026 21:33 IST