Farmers fume over cane prices; govt relents for talks

Thousands of farmers staged dharnas at various places in the capital today over the new ordinance to fix sugarcane prices while the government said it was ready for talks with sugarmill owners.

The farmers' agitation included protesters from the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), Bhartiya Kisan Union (Tikait) and Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan. Majority of the farmers were from Bagpat and Meerut in Uttar Pradesh.

The farmers are against the Union government having fixed a price of Rs 129.85 per quintal for sugarcane during the 2009-10 crushing season under the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) system. Another issue is the Uttar Pradesh State Advisory Price (SAP) which had been set between Rs.165 and Rs.170 per quintal. In case a state government fixed SAP higher than the FRP, it would have to pay the difference. Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav, taking part in a dharna here, said he would lead a movement for the farmers of the country whose condition according to him was the worst in the world.

''Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar are responsible for the sugarcane crisis,'' Mr Yadav said.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister was having a hurriedly called meeting with Home Minister P Chidambaram, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Law and Justice Minister Veerappa Moily over the crisis, sources said.

The sources also said the government was ready for talks with sugarmill owners whom it wanted to share the responsibility.

Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said there should be a discussion on the ordinance in Parliament. Opposition NDA, on the other hand, said it would not let Parliament run smoothly till the cane prices issue was resolved and wanted the government to take back the ordinance.

The DMK has also supported the opposition's stand, sources said.

-- (UNI) -- 19DI17.xml

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