The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday staged a walkout in the Legislative Council after the Karnataka government refused to increase the State Advisory Price of sugarcane to Rs. 3,000 a tonne and to order a judicial probe into the suicide of sugarcane grower Vittal Bhimappa Arabhavi.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said Rs. 2,500 a tonne would be paid by sugar factories and Rs. 150 a tonne by the government. This was arrived at scientifically after considering the prevailing price of sugar in the market (Rs. 2,600 to Rs. 2,700 a quintal). A magisterial inquiry into the suicide was sufficient as it would bring out the truth quickly when compared to a judicial inquiry, he said.
Earlier, Leader of the Opposition D.V. Sadananda Gowda wanted the government to pay at least Rs. 350 more a tonne as the cost of production had increased manifold. He also wanted the government to ensure that sugar factories pay the specified price to farmers.
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He said, on Thursday, two sugarcane-laden trucks were not allowed into Jamkhandi sugar factory as the factory wanted the farmers to sign an agreement agreeing to Rs. 2,000 a tonne.