Traders oppose move to install Nehru statue at APMC Yard in Kalaburagi

Traders and members of various organizations staged a protest here on Tuesday against the proposal to install a statue of former Prime Minister late Jawaharlal Nehru in the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Yard building.

The Gunj Market area witnessed a bandh with traders shutting down their establishments and suspending commercial activities in protest.

The protesters took out a padayatra to the APMC office and submitted a memorandum to the authorities.

Protesters demanded that the site where the old administrative building once stood be used to build a modern, computerized bidding hall and a new administrative office that would benefit farmers and traders.

In a memorandum submitted to the APMC, Food Grains and Seeds Traders Association president Santosh Langer and honorary secretary Basavaraj H. Tadkal stated that the old administrative building, built in 1947, was demolished due to lack of maintenance.

It was stated that the government has already initiated administrative and technical procedures for the construction of a new tender hall and office complex at the same location.

During the site inspection conducted by Agriculture Minister N. Chaluvarayaswamy in December 2025, representatives of the traders association urged the authorities to retain the proposed building on the existing site.

A revised proposal with an estimated cost of ₹4.98 crore was later approved in the general body meeting, association members said.

Protesters expressed concern over reports that preparations were on to install a statue of the late Jawaharlal Nehru in the area. They said the move could result in shifting of essential administrative facilities to other locations, which could cause inconvenience to farmers and traders.

Shrimant Udnoor, former president of the association, said traders were strongly opposing this proposal. They will continue their agitation against the erection of the statue.

Kalyana Karnataka Pratyeka Rajya Horata Samiti President MS Patil Naribol stated that the work on the proposed statue had started without approval from APMC officials and demanded that it be stopped immediately.