Bagalkot
Farmers staged a road blockade demanding a price of Rs 2,900 per tonne for sugarcane crop. The farmers have been protesting against the government for the past two days and blocked two state highways at Gaddanakeri cross in the city.
On the second day of the farmers’ protest, it spread from Mudhol taluka to the district headquarters. They blocked both the Hubli-Solapur and Raichur-Belagavi highways and staged a protest in the middle of the road. Tractors were also stopped across the highway and the road was blocked. Road blockades were held at Gaddanakeri Cross, Lokapura, Mudhol, Rabakavi Banahatti and other places.
Sugarcane growers, who have been protesting for the past one month, recently held a meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in the presence of three ministers failed. Following this, the farmers blocked Mudhol town and raised slogans against the government and the sugar factory owners.
Farmers demand Rs 2,900 per tonne for sugarcane: The farmers demanded that the government should instruct the sugar factory management to fix the price at Rs 2,900 per tonne.
Speaking on the occasion, farmer leader Muthappa Komara said, “Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai speaks of dham sakti. But, we don’t talk like that. He said the government should make the farmers get Rs 2,900 per tonne from the sugar factory. In a meeting held in the presence of three ministers, two days’ time was given. Accordingly, the time has expired and therefore, the government should announce Rs 2,900 per tonne of sugarcane. Otherwise, the government will be held responsible for the disaster, the protesters warned.
Traffic on the highway was disrupted due to the farmers’ protest. The police then persuaded the protesters and allowed vehicular movement.
