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Bengaluru, Nov 7 (IANS) Karnataka BJP president and MLA BY Vijayendra welcomed the major decision taken at the important meeting between sugarcane farmers and factory owners chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday.
Speaking to the media, Vijayendra said that for the past few days, sugarcane farmers, State Farmers Union and Hasiru Sena (Green Army) were holding peaceful protests at Gurlapur Cross in Mudalagi taluk of Belagavi district.
He described Friday’s decision as a victory for the farmers and their organizations and acknowledged their tireless struggle.
Vijayendra said, “The Chief Minister held a meeting today, but in my opinion, this meeting should have been held a month or two ago. When farmers had to take to the streets and the agitation started spreading to other districts, we also visited the protest site to express our support. It was only after that visit and the increasing intensity of the protest that the government finally woke up and called this meeting.”
“The Chief Minister also canceled all his scheduled programs in Tumakuru for this meeting. I welcome the decision taken,” he said.
He said, “In today’s meeting, apart from the Chief Minister, many cabinet ministers also targeted me. They questioned why Vijayendra had to go to the protest site and accused us of provoking the farmers. But we went there five days after the protest started.”
Vijayendra clarified, “Even after five days, neither the minister in charge, nor the Chinese minister, nor any other minister showed any concern or visited the protest site. That’s when we decided to go there and extend our support.”
He said, “We did not go there to do politics or instigate the farmers; I had said this clearly during the protest meeting itself. I had gone there out of genuine concern for the farmers as the son of farmer leader Yediyurappa.”
“I did not go there for political gains or to favor the sugar mill owners,” he said, adding that he would bring all these facts to the notice of the Chief Minister.
Vijayendra said, “The state government owes farmers Rs 50 per tonne. The government earns about Rs 30,000 crore in revenue every year through jaggery, ethanol and power generation. Allocating Rs 50 per tonne to farmers will cost only Rs 300 crore – which is about 1 per cent of the revenue.”
Rajya Sabha member Irna Kadadi was also present during the discussion.
Following the protest by sugarcane farmers, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held a meeting for seven continuous hours and announced the decision to fix the price of sugarcane at Rs 3,300 per tonne.
After the marathon meeting, the Chief Minister announced the government’s decision in a press conference in Bengaluru on Friday.
Siddaramaiah announced that it was decided to send a delegation to the Center to discuss issues related to the consent of both farmers and factory owners.
Sugarcane farmers and organizations in Belagavi and surrounding districts of north Karnataka have been protesting for nine days, with the BJP promising its support to the movement.
Agitating farmers at Gurlapur Cross in Belagavi welcomed the move and burst crackers after the announcement.
CM Siddaramaiah said both the government and factory owners will contribute Rs 50 each, which will ensure that farmers get Rs 3,300 per tonne.
–IANS
MKA/PGH