Congress govt. shirking responsibility towards sugarcane farmers, says BJP

The Congress government in the State is playing politics over the agitation by sugarcane growers instead of addressing their pressing concerns, BJP Raitha Morcha State president Aminappagouda S. Patil Nadahalli said in Vijayapura on Thursday.

“Under the existing legal framework, the State should share 70% of the responsibility towards ensuring fair prices for farmers. Sadly, it is shirking its responsibility and blaming the Centre. The Congress leaders are only shedding crocodile tears for sugarcane farmers,” Mr. Nadahalli, who is a former MLA, told reporters.

The State must discharge its responsibilities towards sugarcane growers rather than shifting the blame on the Union Government whose responsibility is limited to only 30% of the burden, he said.

He said that farmers are facing serious problems concerning sugarcane recovery rates, discrepancies in weighing practices and harvesting.

"It is the State that should take immediate steps to address these issues and ensure justice to growers. The Centre cannot do all that. Instead of engaging in political blame games, the Congress government should address at least 70% of the demands raised by the farmers,” he said.

"The Centre held detailed discussions with farmers for four-five hours and decided to constitute a committee to examine their various demands to help them. Now, sugarcane growers should cooperate with the committee,” he said and added that the BJP is standing firmly with them in their struggle.

To a query, he said that the BJP has not yet decided on joining the protest by sugarcane farmers. “If necessary, the party will extend its support by participating in the agitation to strengthen their movement,” he said.

The BJP leader said that the Centre is taking steps to address all concerns of the sugarcane growers. “It is doing so by promoting the production of value-added products from sugarcane, including ethanol, instead of them depending solely on sugar production,” he said.

And, the State government must take the lead in resolving issues falling within its jurisdiction instead of attempting to portray them as the responsibility of the Centre alone, he said.

He said that a lasting solution should be evolved by taking into account the interests of sugarcane growers, consumers and the sugar industry, along with prevailing international market conditions. “Farmers should not be forced to repeatedly take to the streets to secure their legitimate demands,” he said.

BJP district president Gurulingappa Angadi was present.