Farmers in Karnataka Use Modi, Shah Cut-Outs as Scarecrows

Merely two months after the chaotic Karnataka elections, farmers in Chikmagalur have started using cardboard cut-outs of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP Chief Amit Shah, left over from the BJP’s campaign in the district, as scarecrows.

According to the The Times of India report, farmers are using the cut-outs of the BJP leaders to scare away crows in Lakkavalli hobli of the Tarikere taluk.

The report states that the farmers started this practice following a generous downpour this season, which has helped complete the sowing of crops.

It is not restricted to any particular party. Party leaders had kept the cut-outs to seek votes in the villages and semi-urban areas. Now the farmers are using the same in their fields. 

Rajesh Matapati, a resident of Tarikere told The Times of India

Matapati, who is also an agro-equipment supplier, added: "Many were also using the buntings, wooden sticks used for the cut-outs for various purposes.”

However, when asked about the cut-outs of the BJP leaders being used as scarecrows, TN Shivakiran, the president of the village, denied any knowledge of the same. According to the report, Shivakiran claimed that he had not come across any such scarecrows.

Prior to the Karnataka elections, Chikmagalur had seemingly looked favourable towards the Congress; however, the BJP had managed to win in all the five constituencies of the district.

The party’s win in the district had largely been due to the efforts of its local leaders, who had launched an aggressive campaign, rallying with cut-outs of the two leaders across the region.

Little did they know that the leftover cut-outs would come in handy for local farmers to scare away crows.

(With inputs from The Times of India)