Sugar cane growers from various parts of the district sat on strike on the middle of the road near Koodanahalli Gate. Led by their leader Kurubur Shanthakumar they demanded the government to fix a scientific price on the lines of neighbouring States like Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. In the far away Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra the price has been fixed at ` 2,100 per tonne, while in TN it is fixed at ` 2,000. But the Government of Karnataka is yet to take a decision on the long pending demand.
They alleged that the reason behind this stance of the authorities could be attributed to those holding reins in ruling and opposition party, also running sugar factories. The agitators warned of intensifying their protest if the government failed to respond to their woes at the earliest.
In addition to this ban on export of rice and sugar has put farmers in a fix. The State Government should revoke the ban, apart from increasing support price for paddy. Paddy Centres should be opened at hobli levels at the earliest.
Owing to the protest vehicles on either sides of the busy highway were found stranded up to one km for nearly one hour. As the agitators didn’t show any signs of relenting, South police took them into preventive custody. They were later taken to District Armed Reserve (DAR) police grounds where they were released.
