Protest against elected reps to make them act, farmers told

State Sugarcane Growers Association president Kurbur Shanthakumar on Friday gave a clarion call to farmers to revolt against the elected representatives, who were visiting villages to campaign for Zilla and Taluk Panchayat elections scheduled to be held in two phases on February 13 and 20.

Addressing media here, Shanthakumar said, “It has become a habit for elected representatives to play with the lives of the farmers. The only time to mend them is during the run up to the elections. If farmers protest, the representatives may take some measures in the interest of the agrarian community, at least for the fear of losing the polls.”

He warned of staging a protest in front of the houses of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and District In-charge Minister V Srinivas Prasad, if the sugar factories fail to pay a fair and remunerative price (FRP) before February 10.

Shanthakumar said, “When the farmers laid siege to Bannari Amman Sugar Factory on January 12, the management had promised the District Administration, in writing, to settle the amount (Rs 2,469 per tonne) within two weeks. However, the management has failed to keep its promise and the District Administration is yet to initiate action”.

Both, the elected representatives and the District Administration, should interfere and take measures to settle the amount at the earliest, he added.

He also appealed to the Centre to divert the resources generated from gold deposit scheme for the benefit of farmers. Also, the recently launched crop insurance scheme for farmers should cover all the crops, he added.