CM Shivakumar Urges Sugarcane Farmers To Call Off Stir, Promises Meeting Next Week

The Chief Minister appealed to the farmers to call off their agitation, assuring them that he would bring farmers’ leaders, sugar factory owners and Central government officials to the negotiating table next week.

“I will convene a meeting of sugar factory owners, farmers’ leaders and Central government officials next week, after Dasara. I appeal to the farmers with folded hands to call off their protest,” Shivakumar said.

He said efforts would be made to resolve the farmers’ problems by meeting Union ministers. The State government alone could not resolve all their problems, as the Central government, banks and sugar factory owners also had a role to play.

“The problems can be resolved permanently only when all stakeholders sit together and discuss the issues,” he said.

“I am ready to sleep on the streets with you, on the mat you give me, and eat the roti you offer me. You have placed your trust in me, and it is my responsibility to uphold that trust. I have come here with the intention of finding a solution to your problems,” Shivakumar told the protesting farmers, seeking to assure them that he stood by their cause.

Shivakumar said he had already spoken to farmers’ leader Chunappa Pujeri over the phone to understand the issues. The Cooperation, Agriculture and Sugar ministers had also been sent to Delhi to discuss the matter with the concerned authorities, he said. He had spoken to the Sugar Minister as well and obtained details of the farmers’ problems.

The Chief Minister said the issue involved difficulties faced by both sugarcane growers and sugar factories. Factory owners had cited financial losses, electricity procurement, production costs and differences in regulatory systems between states to explain their inability to meet the farmers’ expectations. Some factories were finding it difficult to continue operations, he said.

“We should not allow a situation in which sugar factories are forced to shut down. If the factories survive, farmers will also benefit. We need to find a solution keeping the interests of both farmers and factory owners in mind,” he said.

Shivakumar said the government had taken note of the strength of the farmers’ agitation and the issues raised by them.

“Their voice has reached the Vidhana Soudha and Delhi. There is no question of ignoring their problems. Farmers do not belong to any one political party. Protecting their interests is everyone’s responsibility,” he said.

He said political accusations and counter-accusations would not help resolve the crisis and called for a collective effort to address the concerns of growers and sugar factories.