Farmers’ talks with Union Minister fails; protest to be held on Oct. 13

Chunappa Pujeri and other KRRS leaders speaking to reporters in Belagavi on Monday. | Photo Credit: P.K. BADIGER

Farmers’ associations will hold a ‘Rasta Roko’ protest in Belagavi district on Tuesday, after talks between farmers’ leaders and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi failed in New Delhi on Monday.

Farmers would block the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway in Hattaragi and Hire Bagewadi in Belagavi district on Tuesday. A State-wide protest would be held next month, leaders said in Belagavi on Monday.

“Over 100 representatives of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KSSR), Hasiru Sene, Kabbu Belegarara Okkoota and other farmers’ groups went to New Delhi today to participate in talks with Mr. Joshi. Our main demands were to increase the Minimum Selling Price (MSP) of sugar and the Fair and Remunerative Price of sugarcane, but the Union Minister flatly refused our demands. We have no other option but to resume our protests,” Chunappa Pujeri, KRRS leader, told reporters.