Raju Shetti at Ankalkhop in Sangli district
More than 300 tractors and bullock carts carrying sugar cane were stopped on Wednesday night as supporters of farmers’ leader Raju Shetti intensified their agitation for a higher cane price. “State govt continues to neglect the demand of farmers to get Rs 4,500 per tonne as the first instalment. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kolhapur | Silver Rate in Kolhapur | Bank Holidays in Kolhapur | Public Holidays in Kolhapur Stay updated with the latest Kolhapur news.
Through police, govt is trying to crush the protest by our supporters,” he said. District officials said the talks are expected to focus on cane pricing and could prove crucial in ending the blockade that has begun affecting cane supply to factories across the region. Members of the outfit have set up camps outside several sugar mills and are preventing cane-laden vehicles from entering factory premises. In Solapur, protesters also halted sugar cane harvesting operations. The agitation disrupted cane supplies to the Krishna Sugar Factory near Karad and the Rajarambapu Sugar Factory in Sangli. Protesters also stopped a truck carrying sugar from the Sharad Sugar Factory in Kolhapur district. The protest comes amid mounting tension after incidents in which cane transport vehicles were allegedly set ablaze by unidentified people. Police have stepped up vigilance and warned agitators against violence and obstruction of traffic. Shetti, who visited protest sites after reports of police action against workers, accused govt of ignoring farmers’ demands. Govt has stepped in to end the deadlock. A meeting between Shetti and representatives of sugar mills, originally scheduled for Thursday evening, has now been postponed to Friday afternoon. Download the TOI App.
Kolhapur : The standoff over sugar cane prices escalated on Thursday, with members of Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana continuing to block cane transport to sugar factories in Kolhapur, Sangli and parts of Solapur despite the state govt’s efforts to broker a settlement.