BIJAPUR: Congress MLA Shivanand Patil, who has been agitating in front of Jnanayogi Shivakumar Sugars Pvt. Ltd. at Hirebevanur in Indi taluk since Saturday seeking an inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the factory, has decided to continue his protest at the Vidhana Soudha.

Addressing presspersons at Indi on Wednesday, Mr. Patil, who is one of the directors of the factory, said that he would seek permission from Speaker Krishna in this regard. He had decided to continue his fast at the Vidhan Soudha from January 20.

He said various organisations observed a bandh supporting the agitation when Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and Minister for Water Resources K.S. Eshwarappa, district in-charge Minister, and other ministers were here on Tuesday.

However, none of them met him. This "insensitive" attitude of the Government forced him to continue his protest at the Vidhana Soudha, he said.

Mr. Patil said though the factory was in the private sector, it was built after 170 farmers contributed Rs. 5 lakh each which they had taken as bank loan.

However, even after five years, they could not get share certificates from the factory. When pressured, the board of directors headed by Basanagouda R. Patil Yatnal issued photocopies of "fake" certificates. A farmer had filed cheating case against Mr. Yatnal and managing director of the factory B.S. Patil, he added.

Meanwhile, addressing presspersons here, Bhimshi Kaladagi, vice-president of the Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha; Shivanagouda Patil, zilla panchayat vice-president; and office-bearers of various organisations urged the Government to safeguard the interests of farmers who had invested in the factory.

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