Seeking an apology from Chief Minister H .K.umaraswamy for describing the agitating sugarcane farmers in Belagavi as “goondas”, the Karnataka State Sugarcane Farmers’ Association has threatened to intensify their agitation if the farmers’ demands including the immediate settlement of outstanding dues by the sugar mill owners are not met.
Association President Kurubur Shanthakumar told reporters in Mysuru on Monday that the farmers will not allow the Belagavi session to be held if their demands were not met.
Asked whether the agitation had the backing of the BJP, Mr. Shanthakumar said the farmers had no faith in any political party. They will independently strive for their rights by taking the path of agitation. No political party had come to the farmers’ rescue, he said.
He referred to Mr. Kumaraswamy’s promise to waive farm loans and said no progress had been made even five-and-a-half months after the coalition government led by him came to power. Neither had the agricultural loans been waived nor have the farmers been receiving fresh loans to take up agricultural activities. The harassment of farmers by banks has been continuing while there has been no let up in the suicides by farmers, he alleged.
Meanwhile, Pushpalatha, president of Mysuru district Sugarcane Farmers Association has urged the Chief Minister to tender an unconditional apology to the woman farmers’ activist Jayashree, who was at the receiving end of Mr. Kumaraswamy’s outbursts after the protest in Belagavi on Sunday.
