Belagavi’s Sugarcane Protest Called Off After Minister’s Intervention.

Belagavi's Sugarcane Protest Called Off After Minister’s Intervention
Belagavi’s Protest Called Off

Belagavi’s sugarcane farmers withdrew their nine-day protest on Friday after the government raised the cane price to ₹3,300 per tonne.

Sri Shashikan Guruji of Inchigeri Shakha Math, who led the farmers’ protest at Gurlapur in Belagavi district, announced on Friday that the farmers had decided to withdraw their agitation for higher sugarcane prices. The farmer leaders said they would vacate the protest site and cooperate with sugar factories in resuming crushing operations.

Speaking to farmers in Gurlapur near Mudalagi, Belagavi district, the seer said, “After meetings with factories and farmers in Bengaluru, the Chief Minister announced that we will get ₹3,300 per tonne of sugarcane—₹3,250 from factories and ₹50 from the state government. We accept this and will end our protest. This is a victory for the farmers. But we will begin our protest again during the winter session of the Legislature in Belagavi.

If about 10 lakh farmers gather before the Suvarna Soudha, we will demand another ₹1,000 per tonne.”

The protest at Gurlapur had continued for nine days before being called off.

The protest was called off after the second round of talks between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, sugar factory owners, and farmer representatives.

He also appealed to farmers to donate ₹5 per tonne of sugarcane to an orphanage of their choice. “I do not mean that you should donate to my math,” the seer clarified.

He said that farmers would hold a rally during the winter session of the Legislature in Belagavi to press for other demands, including a 14-day payment deadline after harvesting, loan waivers, and the clearance of pending sugarcane dues.

However, Chunnappa Pujari struck a cautious note, saying, “We had demanded ₹3,500 per tonne, while the government has offered ₹3,300. I will consult with farmers before taking a final decision. The Sugar Minister must visit us at Gurlapur Cross on Sunday and give this assurance in writing.”

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