Mandya, Aug. 10 -- A joint protest by Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and farmers' organisations against the policies of the central and state governments witnessed high drama in Mandya after activists blocked the old Mysuru-Bengaluru highway, leading to a confrontation with police.

Hundreds of workers and farmers assembled at Sanjay Circle and staged a demonstration, raising slogans against what they described as anti-worker and anti-farmer policies. The protesters demanded that labour laws allegedly affecting workers' rights be withdrawn immediately.

Another major demand centred on the proposed Bidadi township. The protesters alleged that the government was attempting to acquire fertile agricultural land in the name of the projec...