Security tightened for Hubballi Chalo by sugarcane growers

As hundreds of sugarcane growers are expected to reach Hubballi in the next two-three days as part of their Hubballi Chalo to press for their various demands and proposed agitation in front of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi’s residence, the police have stepped up security in the city.

Farmers have been demanding that the Union government fix the price of sugarcane at ₹5,500 a tonne, raise the minimum support price (MSP) of sugar to ₹60 a kg and implement the Swaminathan Commission recommendations.

They have also sought a scientific pricing mechanism for agricultural produce and measures to ensure remunerative prices for their produce.

The agitation intensified earlier this week with sugarcane growers blocking the Bengaluru-Pune National Highway at various places in Belagavi, Dharwad, Haveri, Vijayapura and Bagalkot districts after Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha and Hasiru Sene declared that talks held at New Delhi failed.

The road blockades were part of a wider protest seeking the Centre’s intervention in fixing remunerative prices for sugarcane.

After withdrawing the road blockades on Wednesday evening, the farmers from Belagavi district are marching towards Hubballi via Dharwad and farmers from other districts too are joining them from different directions.

According to farmer leaders, the protesters are expected to first gather at Dharwad and then proceed to Hubballi. They are likely to make an attempt to lay a siege to Mr. Joshi’s residence at Mayuri Estate in Hubballi.

Ahead of the proposed protest, the police have erected barricades, about 10 ft high, near the Union Minister’s residence, office and other important locations. Police personnel have also been deployed at strategic points, including near the airport, as a precautionary measure. Hubballi witnessed a mega rally by sugarcane growers on September 29 after which the Union government called them for talks in New Delhi. The growers have stepped up their agitation amid dissatisfaction over the progress in efforts at resolving their demands.

Police Commissioner Bhushan Borase told presspersons that additional security arrangements have been made at strategic points in view of the proposed protest.

The police are taking extra precautions this time as during the last protest, the protesting farmers breached the barricades and reached Mr. Joshi’s residence.