The sugarcane farmers in Maharashtra have given an ultimatum
to the state government for its failure to declare better prices for the crop,
failing which the farmers have said they will organise a 48-hour bandh. The
bandh call has been given by Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna leader and MP Raju
Shetty.
In Uttar Pradesh, the deadlock between sugar mill owners and
government is threatening to impact the production of sugar. Crucial talks to
break the logjam over cane crushing operations failed yesterday, with sugar
mill owners refusing to run their plants at current high sugarcane prices.
A depressed sugarcane farmer on Wednesday committed suicide
near the Karnataka state secretariat in Belgaum while protesting against
non-payment of arrears by a sugar mill.