Sugarcane price: BJP plans a bitter pill

Belgavi: The  police, which is readying to deploy around 5,000 of its men  around the Suvarna Vidhan Soudha here during the winter session of the state legislature, could have its task cut out as  thousands of sugarcane growers are  preparing to stage a massive protest before it when the legislature meets.

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Bhaskar Rao says the police will be on vigil to ensure peace in the city from December 9 to 20 while the legislature session is underway. 

But with the BJP  getting ready to support the sugarcane growers in their protest before the Suvarna Vidhan Soudha , he could have a tough job on his hands.

The government has been reluctant to hold the session in Belgaum this year with the cane crisis threatening to disrupt it. 

Its fears were realised when a day after it announced the dates of the session, farmers leaders of north Karnataka warned they planned  to stage a protest in front of the soudha should the sugar factories fail to settle their Rs 2100 crore dues.

President of the state sugarcane growers? association, Kurubur Shanthkumar said the government should ensure payment  with  interest and also file contempt of court cases against the sugar factories that have failed to pay farmers