BJP Morcha backs protesting farmers

Iranna Kadadi, BJP Raitha Morcha president and former Rajya Sabha member, said on October 2 in Belagavi that the party will work with sugarcane farmers who recently protested in Hubballi.

Some farmer demands justified

Kadadi said the BJP does not view the protests as a political movement and believes some of the farmers' demands are justified. The Morcha wants to send a message of support to the growers.

“Some of their demands are justified”

Next steps: meeting with leaders

The BJP Raitha Morcha will hold a meeting with farmer leaders to discuss their demands and carry their concerns to the Union Government, Kadadi said.

Dispute over price policy

Kadadi said some leaders like Shashikant Guruji have confused minimum selling price for sugar with minimum support price. The Centre fixes minimum support price for twenty five types of crops, but minimum selling price prevents factories selling below set rates.

“Guruji has mistaken the recommended Minimum Selling Price for sugar to be Minimum Support Price”

Modi implementing Swaminathan plan

Kadadi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started implementing recommendations from the M. S. Swaminathan Commission for sugarcane farmer welfare, but changes must happen step by step over years, not overnight.

“There can be no overnight change”

Karnataka government blamed

Kadadi alleged that while the Union Government has taken several steps for farmers, the Karnataka government has yet to do anything good for them. He also said Guruji expressed regret for using unparliamentary terms against Union Minister Pralhad Joshi.