Bommai urges State to announce SAP to provide relief to growers

BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai has expressed the hope that the minimum support price (MSP) for sugarcane will be revised and urged the Congress government to announce a State Advised Price (SAP) to provide relief to growers.

Speaking to presspersons in Dharwad on Thursday, Mr. Bommai said that an expert committee has been constituted to recommend a revision of the sugarcane price and it is expected to submit a report soon.

The MSP for sugarcane has not been revised for several years, he said and added that periodic revisions may have prevented the present situation.

Since a revision is overdue, it should take into account the differing demands of States and implement the recommendations nation-wide, he said.

Mr. Bommai said that the State government should not leave the responsibility of ensuring remunerative prices entirely to the Centre, as it earns substantial GST revenue from sugar and its byproducts.

The State government should use the provisions of the State Advised Price law to provide a support price for sugarcane, he said.

He also called for addressing issues relating to the weighing of sugarcane and recovery rates, stating that these required the State government’s intervention.

CBI probe

On the ongoing controversy over a sting operation in the State, Mr. Bommai demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He said that a fair investigation cannot be expected under the D.K. Shivakumar-led Congress government.

He said that the Chief Minister himself carried out the sting operation to keep his Cabinet Ministers under pressure. A comprehensive CBI investigation will help establish who is behind the operation, who orchestrated it and what their motives were, he said.

Describing the episode as embarrassing for political leaders, Mr. Bommai said that political differences should be addressed through legitimate democratic means rather than unethical methods. A thorough investigation is necessary to identify those responsible and the forces behind the operation, he added.