Protesting against Karnataka govt, villagers decide not to vote

Zee Media Bureau

Bangalore: In an unusual move, around 4000 people from Dodda Ullarthi village in Chitradurga district have decided not to vote in the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections, a report said. The report said that the villagers’ decision is a protest symbol against the state government’s move of allocating 10,000 acres of Amritmahal Kaval grasslands in Challakere taluk of Chitradurga for setting up facilities of DRDO, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, IISc, ISRO. The state government had allocated the land in 2008. The villagers fear that they will be deprived of their livelihood as they are dependent on Amritmahal Kaval grasslands to meet their basic needs such as cattle grazing, firewood etc. The affected group has filed a PIL in the Karnataka High court and has also garnered support from Environment Support Group, which has also filed a petition in the National Green Tribunal against state’s decision.