Farmers protest sugarcane prices across Belagavi district
Protesters demanding higher sugarcane rates and better ethanol procurement caused road blockades and business closures on Saturday.
Farmers under the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene banners staged protests across Belagavi district on Saturday. According to the Deccan Herald, the protesters called for a sugarcane price of Rs 5,500 per tonne, a higher minimum selling price for sugar, and fair ethanol procurement from state sugar factories by the Centre.
The bandh impacted Hukkeri, Gokak, Nippani, Raibag, Chikkodi, Kagwad and Athani taluks. Reported disruptions included road blockades, the closure of commercial establishments and the interruption of bus services.
Protesters blocked traffic on the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway and at the Central Bus Stand in Belagavi. In Kagwad taluk, shops remained closed in Ainapur, Shedbal, Ugar, Mole, Kavagudda and Mangsuli.
Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene state president Chunappa Pujeri and honorary president Shashikant Guruji announced the protest. Pujeri stated that farmers were prepared to face arrest to support their demands.
The farmers have been protesting for nearly a month. While Chief Minister D K Shivakumar held discussions with farmers during a march towards Hubballi, no breakthrough was reached following subsequent meetings between the government, farmers and sugar factory managements.
A central committee visited Bengaluru on October 29 and 30 to discuss the demands with officials and farmer leaders and is expected to submit a report to the Centre.