Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha members gheraoed Umashree, district in-charge Minister, in protest against the delay in payment of sugarcane arrears by factories.
Ms. Umashree was here to inaugurate a Yakshanagana programme organised by the Department of Kannada and Culture at the Zilla Rang Mandir in Bidar on Saturday.
The protesters surrounded the Minister and shouted slogans against the factory owners and the government. They accused the government of failing to protect farmers.
Vishwanath Patil Koutha, KRRS district president, told the Minister that she had failed to keep her promise to ensure that factories paid the State advised price of Rs. 2,500 per tonne. Farmers are suffering as the factories are not paying more than Rs. 2,000 per tonne, he said.
