BJP OBCs Morcha plans to stage protest in Kalaburagi on March 16

Stating that there have administrative failure, financial mismanagement and deterioration in law and order in the district, the BJP OBCs Morcha will stage a massive protest in Kalaburagi on March 16.

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, BJP OBCs Morcha State secretary Avvanna Myakeri said that party workers will lay a siege to the Deputy Commissioner’s office under the banner, “Priyank Kharge Hatao, Kalaburagi Bachao”, seeking the removal of district in-charge Minister Priyank Kharge.

Mr. Myakeri said that law and order in the district has “completely deteriorated”, pointing to incidents of murder, serious assault and crimes against women.

He said that law and order has collapsed in the district in the face of increasing illegal activities such as sand mining, narcotics trade and gambling.

Illegal sand mining alone has resulted in a loss of nearly ₹2,500 crore to the Exchequer, he said and added that no stringent action has been taken against those responsible.

Accusing the State government of neglecting development works, Mr. Myakeri said that no Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) meeting has been held in the district in the past two years. Referring to the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board (KKRDB), he said that of the ₹5,000 crore earmarked for 2025-26, only ₹862 crore has been taken up for planning, leaving ₹4,138 crore unutilised and at a risk of lapsing.

He demanded that the entire allocation be utilised by KKRDB and urged the State government to provide a similar grant for the 2026-27 financial year.

Highlighting agrarian distress, Mr. Myakeri said that heavy rainfall has damaged crops in about 7.06 lakh hectares. However, compensation has been provided only for 3.24 lakh hectares at ₹4,000 to ₹5,000 per acre.

He said that 2.67 lakh farmers have paid ₹36.34 crore towards crop insurance premium for 2025-26, but compensation has not been released.

The morcha demanded immediate disbursal of pending crop insurance claims and ₹307 crore towards compensation for red gram crop loss due to wilt disease during the 2024-25 kharif season.

Raising concern over the functioning of the district administration, he said that non-payment of land acquisition compensation has led to the seizure of the Deputy Commissioner’s official vehicle and office furniture, affecting public services.

The morcha warned that it will intensify its agitation if the Congress government fails to respond to its demands.