Rudrapur, Aug. 23 -- Farmers under the banner of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU)-Tikait continued their three-day protest at the collectorate in Rudrapur for the second consecutive day on Saturday, with Congress leaders extending their support to the protesters. Congress MLA and deputy leader of opposition in the Uttarakhand assembly Bhuwan Kapri, Kichha MLA Tilak Raj Behar and former MLA Raj Kumar Thukral met the farmers at the site. "The BJP government is playing with the sentiments of farmers. It has nothing to do with development or redressal of public grievances. Agriculture is the backbone of our economy, but the government's negligent attitude towards farmers is disappointing. People will give a befitting reply in the next elections," Kapri said. Farmers from across Udham Singh Nagar district began the three-day dharna outside the collectorate on Friday. They are demanding free electricity for agriculture, an increase in the minimum support price (MSP), a halt to the installation of smart electricity meters and ownership rights over agricultural land. Police were deployed near the collectorate as farmers attempted to enter to press their demands. Police stopped them at the barricades, following which some protesters allegedly pulled down the barricades and blocked the national highway....