BJP Raitha Morcha to work with sugarcane farmers to find solutions to problems, Iranna Kadadi, morcha president and former Rajya Sabha member, said in Belagavi on October 2.

“Sugarcane growers from some districts have protested in Hubballi recently. We do not see it as a political movement, We notice that some of their demands are justified. We would like to send a message to them that the Morcha is with them and is willing to work with them. We will hold a meeting with their leaders discuss their demands and carry their concerns to the Union Government,” Mr Kadadi said.

According to him, some of the leaders, like Shashikant Guruji, lack clarity on the issues plaguing sugarcane growers. “Guruji has mistaken the recommended Minimum Selling Price for sugar to be Minimum Support Price. The Centre makes allocations for 25 types of crops for market intervention mechanism by fixing Minimum Support Price. However, the Minimum Selling Price for sugar is to ensure that the factories do not sell for lower prices. Revising the minimum selling price will not help the cause of farmers,” Mr. Kadadi said.

Mr. Kadadi said that the Union Government was taking several steps for the welfare of sugarcane farmers, though some more steps need to be taken. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started implementing the recommendations of the M. S. Swaminathan Commission. However, it needs to be done step-by-step , over the years. There can be no overnight change,” he said.

He alleged that while the Union Government had taken several steps in the right direction, the government of Karnataka is yet ‘to do anything good for the farmers’.

Mr. Kadadi said that he had objected to the use of unparliamentary terms by Guruji against Union Minister Pralhad Joshi. “However, Guruji has expressed regret about the terms, and the matter has ended,” he said.