Udupi (Karnataka), Oct 15 Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday appealed to sugarcane growers in the state to remain patient over the pricing issue, saying the matter affected farmers across the country and that discussions were underway with leaders in Maharashtra.
He said the state government was in talks with the Union government and his ministers had convened a meeting on the issue.
“Sugarcane growers must survive, and sugar factories must survive. This is our aim,” he said, adding that lack of rainfall had also affected crop yields this year.
Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar said neither sugar nor sugarcane prices had increased over the past 10 years. The state government had announced financial support for sugarcane growers previously and would continue to extend such assistance.
He urged farmers not to take law into their own hands and said the issue should be resolved through discussions.
Sugarcane growers from north Karnataka are on a padayatra near Belagavi, towards the residence of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi in Hubballi, following a two-day blockade of the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway near Belagavi.
The protesters decided to take their agitation to the Union Minister’s doorstep after the Centre failed to give a clear assurance on their demands, despite constituting a committee to examine the issues raised by sugarcane growers.
The farmers are demanding Rs 5,500 per tonne of sugarcane, an increase in the minimum selling price of sugar to Rs 60 per kg, and a revision of ethanol prices, among others.
On the protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Shivakumar said the votes of all citizens must be protected, irrespective of their political affiliations.
“Voting is a constitutional right granted to the people, and I will work to protect it,” he said.
(PTI News)
