Protesters block Hattaragi toll plaza along the Pune-Bengaluru national highway on Tuesday
A sugarcane grower sleeps on the Pune-Bengaluru national highway near Belagavi Protesters block Hattaragi toll plaza along the Pune-Bengaluru national highway on Tuesday A sugarcane grower sleeps on the Pune-Bengaluru national highway near Belagavi Protesters block Hattaragi toll plaza along the Pune-Bengaluru national highway on Tuesday Belagavi : Thousands of farmers blocked national and state highways across Belagavi district on Tuesday, demanding that the sugarcane price be fixed at Rs 5,500 per tonne. Besides Rs 5,500 per tonne for sugarcane, farmers demanded an MSP of Rs 60 per kg for sugar, implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations and procurement of ethanol produced in Karnataka. As the Hirebagewadi blockade intensified, police diverted vehicles bound for Belagavi and Maharashtra from NH-48 near MK Hubballi via Parishwad.
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Farmers’ leader Chunappa Pujeri said the agitation would continue round-the-clock until govt accepted their demands. Shashikant Padasalagi said a farmers’ delegation had travelled to New Delhi for talks, but the issue was proposed to be placed before the Union Cabinet. Organised by Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene, farmers gathered at Hirebagewadi, Hattaragi and Koganolli toll plazas along the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway from 8am. At Hirebagewadi, protesters blocked all four lanes and parked tractors across the highway, bringing traffic to a halt. Some arrived with bullocks and bullock carts. Women and farmers beat an effigy of Union minister Pralhad Joshi with brooms and slippers before setting it ablaze. Protesters also staged symbolic demonstrations, rolled on the road and cooked food on the highway. SP K Ramarajan and city police commissioner Prakash Nikam visited the protest site. Police allowed the demonstration to continue peacefully, while farmers remained at the site into the evening, demanding concrete assurances from govt. Download the TOI App.