Hubballi: As the Mahadayi agitation entered the fourth year on Monday, over 600 people, including seers, doctors, farmers and women in Nargund initiated a letter movement by posting their plea for euthanasia to the President of India.Agitators, from 11 taluks of four districts, obtained application forms for euthanasia from leaders and filled them with their names, addresses and other details and pasted Rs 5 stamps on the envelopes. Some farmers and women, who were illiterate, sought help from farmer leaders and literate co-activists to fill up the application. When the seers inaugurated the campaign by dropping their application into post-boxes, a huge crowd followed their example.Addressing a rally, Siddalinga Shivacharya of Guddada Hiremath, Shivakumar Swami of Viraktamath, Gurusiddhaveera Shivayogi of Patrivan Math, Shantalinga Swamiji of Bhairanahatti and Marulasidda Shivacharya of Byahatti said they’re ready for euthanasia along with other protesters. “No mutt or temple can be sustained without devotees. When our devotees are left unattended by both state and Union governments, we can’t sit quiet at our mutts. If the governments continues with the same attitude, there will be no one around in agriculture in the future. This will push the country into food and financial trouble,” they said.Dr Ravindra, state president, Indian Medical Association, who also applied for euthanasia, appealed to farmers not to commit suicide for any reason. “We will wait till the Supreme Court allows us to go ahead with euthanasia. Once we get legal permission, we’ll do it on this platform” he added.He urged all MPs of the state to create a constitutional crisis by submitting their resignations en masse.Veeresh Sobaradamath, state president, Raitha Sena Karnataka, said though people had appealed to all elected representatives, right from MLA to Prime Minister and President, they hadn’t received any response. “Now they should give Mahadayi water or mercy killing as it has been difficult for us to live without water. We’ll continue the stir till we get water or our last breath,” he said.

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