After Calling Them ‘Goondas’, Kumaraswamy Now Stands With Farmers

Cane farmers get temporary relief as CM promises that factories settle unpaid dues.

After hours of meetings, the CM has called for another meeting with sugar factory owners by 22 November.

(Photo: Aroop Mishra/The Quint)

All eyes on Tuesday, 20 November, afternoon were trained on the Vidhana Soudha as Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy convened nearly a day-long meeting with sugarcane growers, sugar mill owners, chief secretaries and other stakeholders concerned.

Staunchly staking his government’s support for the plight of farmers, Kumaraswamy said in no uncertain terms that the sugar factory owners must cough up all dues to the sugarcane growers, without exception. That includes the pending dues that farmers claim haven’t been paid for years together, under the ambit of FRP (fair and remunerative price).

While the cane farmers have claimed that the dues run into the hundreds of crores – Rs 450 crore to be precise, according to government records – it only adds up to Rs 38 crore. This is because a large number of farmers enter into informal, verbal agreements with the factory owners, without proper documentation.

This, however, is not the final resolution. The Chief Minister has called for another meeting with the factory owners by 22 November to settle on the exact amount to be paid by them to all the farmers. The representatives present at the meeting on Tuesday did not call the shots, he later said in a briefing, giving rise to the efficacy of today’s talks.

Decades-long Agitation

While the agitation of the cane farmers is years old, the issue had become a pressure point in recent times, especially for the coalition that has labelled itself a “pro-farmer” government. About 20 trucks with sugarcane had attempted to storm the Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi on Sunday, 18 November, after Kumaraswamy cancelled his trip scheduled for the following day. His comments calling the protesting farmers “goondas” had led to more outrage, making thousands of farmers descend on Bengaluru.

Matters came to a head on Monday, 19 November, when protesting farmers from Belagavi, Mysuru, Bagalkote, Bidar and other places attempted to storm the Vidhana Soudha.

This morning, the farmers came to us with 13 issues. After hours of deliberation, we stand firmly with the farmers of the state.

HD Kumaraswamy, Karnataka Chief Minister

Kumaraswamy further said the factory owners would have to start immediately shelling out the new FRP set for the crops by the Central government. This has been set at Rs 2,750 per tonne, as notified by the government in July this year, up from Rs 2,500 set under the Siddaramaiah government.

He also said that in order to prevent farmers from being duped or shortchanged, the government would ensure that there is new machinery and weighing implements installed in all the factories.

Resistant Factory Owners and Lack of Documentation

In what is meant to be words of caution to factory owners, Kumaraswamy said, “Factory owners can’t play tricks on the farmers. They will have to pay up what they are owed. This government stands with the farmers, and we will ensure that all dues are paid out.”

However, he offered nothing when asked how he will make the factory owners comply. In the course of Monday’s meeting earlier today, Congress Shrimant Patil, who owns a sugar factory in the state, protested at factory owners being asked to clear thousands of crores of rupees. This elicited surprise and shock from the farmers, sources present at the meeting said.

Answering questions about the next course of action if the factory owners did not comply, he said:

“Regardless of the type of agreement, the factory owners must pay up dues. We will ensure that notices are put up factory-wise for farmers to come forward with details of their type of agreement, and we will take it from there.”

HD Kumasrasamy, Karnataka Chief Minister

It is a common practice, particularly in North Karnataka, for farmers and factory owners to enter into informal agreements. That might end up being detrimental to the farmers when they need to furnish documentation to authorities.

In a relief to the protesting farmers, who were booked for attempting to enter the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, the cases against them will be withdrawn.

Farmers Happy, For Now

Gangadharappa, chief of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) and Hasiru Sena, Mysuru, welcomed the Chief Minister’s decision.

We are happy that the Chief Minister entered into dialogue with us and assured us payout as per FRP while the next round of sugarcane is ready to be harvested.

Gangadharappa, chief of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) and Hasiru Sena, Mysuru

BJP to Still Launch State-wide Agitation From 21 November

In a release hours after the marathon meeting, the BJP in Karnataka said that they would hold protest demonstrations at all district headquarters on Wednesday, November 21, led by Yeddyurappa in Bengaluru.

This is being done in the run-up to the starting of the winter session of the legislature on 10 December, where BJP has decided to organize a mammoth rally to provide momentum to the on-going loan crisis.

BJP pledged to go ahead with the agitation(Source: Karnataka BJP)

Meanwhile, a Farmer Commits Suicide in Rural Bengaluru

According to Deccan Herald, a debt-ridden farmer named Madegowda (40), had consumed pesticide and killed himself on Monday night.

Difficulty in paying off loans of Rs 5 lakh had caused him to take the extreme step.