Farmers withdraw from their dharna owing to assurance from HD Kumaraswamy

BELAGAVI/BENGALURU: The sugarcane farmers withdrew on their day-and night dharna because of an assurance that was given  by the chief minister HD Kumaraswamy that he would be meeting them on Monday in Belagavi to hear their demands. He spoke to the farmer leader Chinappa Pujari over the phone and assured him that he will hold a meeting to discuss about their grievances.

The CM appeared riled with the dharna, earlier during the day, as it began at the deputy commissioner’s (DC) office on Thursday. Besides other grouses, farmers had alleged that they have not been paid by the sugar factories for their produce and are also unhappy with the price of the cane.
“If you (farmers) have a problem, you should discuss it with the government. My government is there for you. The gates of Vidhana Soudha are always open. But don’t indulge in politics,” the CM said. 

He said that he had already asked SB Bommanahalli, the DC of Belgaum, to invite the farmers for a dialogue with him on Monday. “We will not allow threats like this. The Belagavi DC has held talks with the owners of the sugar mills and has told them to clear pending dues of farmers at the earliest. The owners have also agreed,” Kumaraswamy said. 

The farmers withdrew their agitation and cancelled a plan to gherao home minister G Parameshwara, who is scheduled to attend programmes in Belagavi on Saturday because of the assurance of the CM. 

On Thursday the farmers had launched an indefinite dharna  after Bommanahalli had failed to negotiate an acceptable deal with the sugar factories. Farmers also held a semi-nude protest on Friday, which included one protesting by holding a stone on their heads. One farmer climbed up to the mobile tower on the premises of the regional commissioner’s office, while another climbed a tree in the premises of the DC’s office and had threatened to jump. However, the police personnel and the fire service personnel had succeeded in bringing them down. Farmers had also locked the offices of the regional commissioner, DC and assistant commissioner. Police had later removed the locks.

The protest was being received support from the leaders of all three major political parties. The members of the Belagavi Bar Association had also submitted a memorandum to the regional commissioner for supporting the farmers’ demands.