Differences among factions lead to delay in sugarcane farmers meeting

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Some farmers staging a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Belagavi on Tuesday demanding that the meeting between farmers and factory owners be conducted in an open ground so that a large number of them can attend. | Photo Credit: P.K. BADIGER

A crucial meeting of sugarcane farmers and factories was delayed after differences arose between factions of farmers as to who should attend it in Belagavi on Tuesday.

Acting on the instructions of district in-charge Minister Satish Jarkiholi, district administration officials invited a select group of 50 farmers to the meeting.

But this upset other farmers who started demanding that a handful of farmers cannot decide the fate of all of them.

Some of them gathered in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office and began demanding that they be invited to the meeting as well.

The police, however, stopped them from going inside saying that only those with invitations can attend the meeting.

Some of them who were already inside also demanded that the meeting be held in an open ground where a large number of farmers can attend.

District officials refused the request saying they have instructions to hold the meeting in the Deputy Commissioner’s office and not outside. Some farmers leaders supported the officers. An argument broke out among the members of the different factions.

In-charge Deputy Commissioner Rahul Shindhe convened the meeting of farmers and factory officials to break the deadlock over sugarcane prices.

While the farmers are demanding that the factories pay ₹4,500 per tonne of sugarcane supplied, factories want to continue paying the Fair and Remunerative Prices of ₹3,650 per tonne.

On October 26, members of various factions got into a fight before the Chief Minister’s meeting in the Suvarna Soudha over lack of clarity of demands.

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