Belagavi (Karnataka) [India], October 24 : Farmer activists in Belagavi on Saturday put forward three demands ahead of Karnataka Chief Minister’s meeting with farmers scheduled for October 26 and threatened to call a Karnataka bandh on October 27 if their demands are not met.
Talking to reporters here, Prem Chougala, General Secretary of Karnataka Raitha Sangha Hasiru Sene, said, "Farmers were hopeful that their demands would be addressed during the meeting with the Chief Minister. “We will place three main demands before the CM.”
"The demands include a support price of Rs 1,000 per tonne from the state government, a price of Rs 4,500 per tonne from sugar factories, and action to stop alleged malpractice involving deductions for moss or muck during weighing", he said.
Chougala warned that farmers would call for a Karnataka bandh on October 27 if the state government failed to respond to their demands.
“If the state government does not respond, we will go on a Karnataka bandh,” he said.
Earlier on October 17, Farmers from sugarcane-growing districts of Karnataka raised three demands before the state and Central governments amid their ongoing protest, with Belagavi Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan stating that both governments have assured them that decisions would be taken in the interest of farmers.
Speaking about the farmers' demands, Roshan said that protesters from Belagavi, Bagalkot, Vijayapura, Hubballi-Dharwad and Haveri had been raising the issues for the past three days.
"Firstly, they want the sugar MSP increased to Rs 60, though they are ready to discuss it with the government. The farmers have also demanded 100 per cent ethanol allocation for Karnataka from oil marketing companies (OMCs). Roshan said that only 30-40 per cent of the allocation was made to the state last year, leaving several ethanol and sugar factories underutilised and causing cash flow problems that affected their ability to pay farmers", he said.
He added that the demand, if met, would also benefit maize growers.
The third demand is for separate pricing of domestic and commercial sugar, with commercial sugar priced higher to improve returns for sugar mills and farmers.
Roshan said he had spoken to the farmers and contacted the offices of the Union Minister and the Chief Minister regarding their concerns. Both governments, he said, had assured that decisions would be pro-farmer and urged the protesters to maintain peace.
The Deputy Commissioner appealed to the farmers to remain peaceful as discussions on their demands continue.