Sugarcane farmers’ padayatra enters third day

Sugarcane farmers taking out a mock funeral procession of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi during the Hubballi Chalo padayatra in Belagavi on Friday. | Photo Credit: P.K. BADIGER

Even as the Hubballi Chalo padayatra entered its third day in Belagavi, farmers began preparing the stage for an indefinite strike in Gurlapur village near Gokak in Belagavi district, in case the Union government delays the fulfilment of their demands.

A team led by farmer leader Chunappa Pujeri began walking from the Suvarna Soudha to Kittur on the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway, saying they would lay siege to the residence of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi in Hubballi. The activists protested by taking out a mock funeral procession of Mr. Joshi along the way.

“We will reach Mr. Joshi’s house in 1-2 days. We expect over five lakh people to come to Hubballi. We urge the Union government to come up with a solution to our problems and announce it publicly. Otherwise, we will not return from Hubballi,” Mr. Pujeri said.

He urged all farmers, especially large landholders, to come to Hubballi and participate in the protest. “If you do not come, then the government will think only the small farmers have problems and will come out with a temporary solution,” he said. He urged the State government to ensure that the Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi served as an alternative head office of the State government for all 12 months of the year.