Demanding a compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre of sugar cane for the delay caused in procurement and Rs 3,500 fair remunerative price (FRP) per tonne, hundreds of people, belonging to various organisations, and farmers staged a mega protest in the town on Monday.
The protesters, who gathered near the Silver Jubilee Park, stood on both sides of the Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway, and raised slogans against the government. Later, they took out a procession and laid a siege to the Deputy Commissioner’s office.
Vehicular traffic, on the Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway, came to a screeching halt on both the sides for more than an hour as the farmers took out a protest march on the stretch. More than 40 bullock carts and autorickshaws were taken out in a procession, supporting the farmers, causing inconvenience to road users.
Condemning both the Union and State governments, for failing to address the farmers’ problems, which are resulting in suicide incidents, they demanded that all sugar factories begin crushing activities and sought a minimum support price of Rs 380 per kg of silk cocoons and Rs 2,000 per quintal of paddy.
The protesters closed all the three gates of the Deputy Commissioner’s office and staged a demonstration, hindering officials from discharging their duties.
They demanded compensation for crop loss — for paddy, sericulture products, banana, vegetables and others.
The other demands put forth by them are: action against unauthorised private moneylenders and financial companies that have been harassing farmers; 12-hour three-phase electricity supply to pump sets during day time; Rs 26 for one litre of milk; solution to problems related to land survey in all taluks; implementation of Rangarajan Committee Report and others.
Deputy Commissioner Dr Ajay Nagabhushan, who received a memorandum from the agitators, assured them that most of the sugar factories will begin crushing in the next 10 days. Arrangements have been made to transport cane to the PSSK, which has resumed crushing. A meeting will be convened soon to discuss about milk prices, he added.
Freedom fighter H S Doreswamy, writer Devanur Mahadeva, farmer leaders Sunanda Jayaram, K Boraiah and others took part in the protest.
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