Call for picketing mills to stop sugar sales for less than ₹60 per kg

Farmer leader Chunappa Pujeri has given a call to all sugarcane farmers to picket in front of sugar factories not to allow them to sell sugar for less than ₹60 per kg.

He told reporters near Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi on Thursday that farmers welcomed the Central panel and hoped that it will support their demands by giving recommendations to revise MSP for sugar and FRP for sugarcane.

“However, sugarcane growers do not have the luxury of time needed for the committee to study the issue and give recommendations. Till then, we will force the government to accept our demands by picketing in front of sugar factories. We will make sure that sugar is not sold for less than ₹60 a kg by the factories. This movement will continue till the government announces revised MSP and FRP,” he said.

Meanwhile, farmers, who are spending the night near the Suvarna Soudha, will leave for Hubballi on Friday morning.

Senior officers, including Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan and Police Commissioner Prakash Nikam, met the farmers who are out on a padayatra.

The protestors gave a copy of their memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner who assured them that he will convey all their concerns to the State government.

He also asked the farmers to give some time to the Union government panel on MSP to study the issue and submit recommendations. He urged them to conduct the protests peacefully and not take the law into their own hands.

He told reporters that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar spoke to the farmers and assured them that the government is with them.

“The Chief Minister has also spoken to the sugar mills association office-bearers and asked them to consider fulfilling the demands of farmers of transparent harvesting, cutting and recovery declaration of sugar yields and payment of dues. Farmers are seeking justice and their demands are fair. They are not restricted to North Karnataka or the State but to the whole country. However, we have to convince the farmers to give some time to the government to resolve their issues. Almost all their problems can be solved through dialogue. I have also assured the protestors that I will do whatever I can in my limits in the district administration,” Mr. Roshan said.

Meanwhile, protests continued in places like Chandargi, Ramdurg and Yaragatti. Farmers took out a protest march near Sangolli Rayanna Circle in Chandargi and shouted slogans against the Union government. They demanded that sugarcane should be priced at ₹5,500 per tonne and the MSP rate should be increased to ₹60.

Grower Jagdish Devaradi said that it is ironic that sugarcane growers are eternally in debt and suffering from poverty, while factory owners are making profits.

“The family of the former Minister Murugesh Nirani started with one factory 25 years ago. Now, they own or operate over 20 factories. If sugar factories are loss-making, why will they set up more?,” he asked.

“The salaries of politicians and government employees are increased regularly but, the earnings of farmers are reduced as they do not get remunerative prices. Who should address this issue?” he asked. He argued that farmers have come to the streets as all other alternatives have been closed.

Farmers leader Sivananda Doddawad addressed a rally in Ramdurg stating: “We participated in the struggle in Hubballi on September 29. But Union Minister Pralhad Joshi left for Delhi on September 28. He invited us to New Delhi but, insulted us by not listening to our grievances. That is why we have started this protest.”

He said that the Union government is discriminating against Karnataka by purchasing only a limited quantity produced in the State, while buying larger quantities from Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. “All the parties should understand that if farmers feel hurt, they can change governments. We have done it in the past,” he said.