BELAGAVI: The state government was planning to buy time on payment of Rs 200 a ton to sugarcane growers, but was forced to change its stance by Opposition parties and farmers. The government took the issue of payment of arrears seriously as soon as a farmer in Mandya district set fire to the sugarcane filed and jumped into the flames on the eve of the legislature session.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah began consultations on how to address the issue after managements of sugar factories said that they would not be able to pay the money to farmers because of a steep decline in prices of sugar.
Though Mr Siddaramaiah did not commit on the first day, he changed his decision the next day following pressure from farmers and opposition parties. Several ministers reportedly advised Mr Siddaramaiah to pay the dues in two installments in the wake of a spurt in farmers’ suicides. The Chief Minister next chaired a meeting of senior officials and discussed payment of arrears from the exchequer as he feared that the Opposition could gain political mileage by highlighting the suicides of farmers and arrears due to farmers.
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Jagadish Shettar, said the government would have delayed payment of dues to farmers if BJP and JD(S) did not jointly attack the government both Houses. Farmers’ leader and Mr K.S. Puttanaiah, MLA, felt that the stir by farmers across the state forced the Chief Minister to change his decision on cane dues.
