Hyderabad: With an objective to get the nation’s attention to the plight of farming community in Telangana, turmeric and red jowar farmers reached Varanasi, home Lok Sabha constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in large number, but only 15 could file nominations against Modi thanks to numerous hurdles created by official mechanism.

Further, a good number of farmers from Tamil Nadu also arrived in Varanasi to file nominations against Narendra Modi to protest against anti-farmer policies of the central government.

The farmers, whose nominations rejected by the officials, in large numbers assembled at Varanasi collectorate office and raised slogans against the partiality of the officials.

“The returning officer and other officials are acting out of the way and have imposed norms that are not in the rule book of Election Commission of India. One contestant and 10proposers are needed to file nomination. However, the officials are insisting on physical presence of 10 proposers. Not accepting nomination papers with signatures or thumb impression of proposers,” said a turmeric farmer from Nizamabad.

“Varanasi officials have been monitoring almost all of us for the past three days and this has prevented us from getting local proposers. After a Hercules task, we could arrange for 10 proposers, but we’re not allowed into premises to file nominations,” remarked a representative of Turmeric Farmers Association.

On the other hand, victims of fluorosis also couldn’t file their nominations in Varanasai. Only two activists from Prakasam district in Andhra Pradesh could file their nominations against Prime Minister Modi. Other activists and victims of fluorosis from Telangana couldn’t file nominations as they’re unable to get 10 proposers, who can present themselves at the returning officer, while submitting nomination papers.