Action against sugar mills for non payment of dues to farmers

In the backdrop of suicide by a sugarcane farmer, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today warned of action against sugar mills which did not abide by law regarding payment of dues to farmers.

"...action will be taken as per law, against all those (mills) not abiding by the law," Siddaramaiah told reporters here in response to a question that a few mill owners - who are ministers in his cabinet - are allegedly not abiding by rules about payment of dues to sugarcane farmers.

He also requested farmers not to commit suicide and assured them that his government was farmer-friendly and would work in their interest.

Stating that Agriculture Price Commission would help in fetching fair price to farmers for their crops, he said, "It is in front of the cabinet sub-committee; we will proceed with it once committee gives us the report. It can happen by January or February."

Reacting to protest by opposition on sugarcane pricing issue, he said "....if they genuinely picked up an issue and bring it to the notice of government- we are ready to solve it, but if they are raking up an issue for political reasons, we will respond to it politically."