The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Sugarcane farmers’ stir: stalemate continues

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Monday, Apr 07, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Sugarcane farmers’ stir: stalemate continues

Staff Reporter

Mills backtrack on their promise to pay the Rs. 5 crore arrears to the farmers: Geetha Reddy

–Photo: Mohd Arif

Expressing solidarity: Harish Rao and Padma Devender Reddy visit agitating sugarcane farmers in Sangareddy.

SANGAREDDY: Minister for Sugar and Major Industries J. Geetha Reddy who spoke with the representatives of the sugar mills here on Sunday in the presence of Minister for Cooperation Mohammad Fariduddin and the agitating sugar cane farmers, said that she had directed the mills to fulfil the promises they made during their meeting with the Chief Minister.

Speaking with reporters after the meeting, Geetha Reddy said that the mills have gone back on their promise to pay the Rs. 5 crore arrears to the farmers and also to pay a minimum of Rs. 1,100 per tonne for the cane, even though the farmers have been demanding last year’s price of Rs. 1,225. She said that its was unfortunate that the majority of the mills that were not paying the government assured price to farmers are in Telangana, particularly in Medak and Nizamabad districts. She asked the managements of the mills to reconsider their stand as already 40 per cent of the cane farmers have stopped cultivating the cane due to lack of price and more could join the ranks plunging the mills into short supply. She assured the representatives of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh that she would arrange another meeting with the Chief Minister and convince the managements to fall in line.

BKS to continue stir

Speaking to reporters, Narsimha Reddy the general secretary of BKS which is spearheading the indefinite hunger strike in front of the Ganapathi sugar mills in Fasalwadi said that they would continue with their agitation. He said that there would be no change in their demand for payment of arrears and last year’s price. Meanwhile former TRS legislators Harish Rao and Padma Devender Reddy, former MLC R.Satyanarayana, TDP district president Mainampalli Hanmantha Rao visited the BKS camp in Fasalwadi and expressed solidarity.

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