Sugarcane Farmers' Protest Enters Fourth Day in Karnataka

Strategic Insights -

Thousands of sugarcane farmers in Belagavi district have been protesting on the Nippani-Chowk State Highway for four days, demanding a fair sugarcane price of Rs 3,500 per tonne. The protest has gained massive public backing, with support pouring in from various organizations, religious leaders, and local communities. Despite the scale of the agitation, no government official or sugar factory representative has visited the protest site, reportedly due to the strong criticism of chief minister Siddaramaiah and other officials.

Key Takeaways:

  • The indefinite strike by sugarcane farmers at Gurlapur Cross has entered its fourth day, with thousands of farmers demanding a fair sugarcane price of Rs 3,500 per tonne.
  • The protest site has become a centre of solidarity, with support pouring in from bar associations, pro-Kannada and Dalit organisations, religious leaders, and college students.
  • Local communities have stepped up to sustain the movement, with sponsors providing groceries and vegetables, and local traders contributing to the protesters' meals.
  • Support from Belagavi and Bagalkot districts has been substantial, with over three lakh rotis sent to the protest site.
  • Farmer unions have warned that if their demand remains unmet, they will escalate the agitation by blocking the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway.
  • Hundreds of protesters were briefly detained by police near Sambra, but released later.
  • No government official or sugar factory representative has visited the protest site, reportedly due to the strong criticism of chief minister Siddaramaiah and other officials.
  • Kudachi MLA Mahendra Tammannavar and Rajya Sabha MP Iranna Kadadi have expressed support for the farmers, while Belagavi MP Jagadish Shettar has issued a statement backing the farmers.
  • Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha President Chunappa Pujari has warned that continued government inaction could lead to unrest, and that farmers may storm sugar factories if the price is not fixed.

Statistics:

  • Over three lakh rotis sent to the protest site from Belagavi and Bagalkot districts.
  • Rs 50,000 donated to the movement by Kudachi MLA Mahendra Tammannavar.
  • Hundreds of protesters detained by police near Sambra, but released later.

Sources:

  • Times of India online, 2023 (exact date not provided)
  • Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha President Chunappa Pujari's statement