Belagavi: Farmers blocked national and state highways at several places across Karnataka on Tuesday, with the agitation continuing into the night in Belagavi, where Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha state president Chunappa Pujeri and his associates declared to continue the movement until the government responded to their demands.
The protesters, under the banner of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene, demanded a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 60 for sugar, a price of Rs 5,500 per tonne for sugarcane, implementation of the MS Swaminathan Commission recommendations and government procurement of ethanol produced in Karnataka.
In Belagavi district, a large number of farmers protested in three including Hirebagewadi and Hattargi toll plazas and at Kognalli check post in Nippani taluk. As a result of the blockade the traffic between Maharashtra and Karnataka were affected. Vehicles were diverted through alternative roads.
Speaking to reporters, Pujeri said road blockades had been organised at 20 to 30 places across Karnataka as part of what he called a historic farmers’ movement. He said the agitation would continue and farmers would return to the highways on Wednesday.
“We are sorry that people are facing difficulties because of the blockade. Lakhs of people use these roads, and we understand their problems. But why are Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi silent on the problems faced by farmers?” he asked.
“Petrol, diesel and fertiliser prices have increased several times, but farmers are not getting a remunerative price for sugarcane. If sugar prices are rising in the international market, why should farmers not get a better price?” he asked.
He also demanded implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations and government procurement of ethanol produced in the state. Appealing to farmers not to stay at home, he urged them to join the agitation.
The demonstration in Belagavi saw farmers stage symbolic protests against Joshi. Women protesters wielding brooms hit an effigy of the Union Minister. Farmers later took it out in a mock funeral procession and set it on fire on the highway.
The agitation were witnessed in other districts as well. In Gadag, farmers held protests at Mulagund Naka and Halligudi Cross before joining the highway blockade at the Hitnal toll plaza.
Basayya Guddimath warned that if the the government does not wake up to the demands, the agitation will continue.
Farmers also blocked a state highway near Korlahalli village in Mundargi taluk.
In Vijayapura district, protesters blocked the Solapur-Chitradurga National Highway near Yalagar Cross, the Vijayapura-Kalaburagi highway at Sindagi and the Vijayapura-Athani highway at Tikota.
The farmers said the highway blockades would continue until the governments responded to their demands on sugar and sugarcane prices and the other issues raised by the unions.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
