Centre on Growers' Side: R Ashoka Slams Congress Over Sugarcane Farmers' Plight
Karnataka LoP R Ashoka criticizes the Congress government for ignoring sugarcane growers while praising the Centre's FRP and MSP initiatives.
The Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, R Ashoka, has launched a scathing attack on the Congress-led state government, accusing it of negligence toward the state's sugarcane growers. During a press conference in Bengaluru, Ashoka asserted that while the Central Government is proactively supporting farmers, the state administration has remained conspicuously silent and failed to perform its duties regarding the Karnataka sugarcane growers condition.
Central Government's Proactive Stance
Ashoka highlighted the initiatives taken by the BJP-led Central Government to secure the financial future of farmers. He noted that the Centre has already made critical decisions regarding the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane. He specifically credited Union Minister Pralhad Joshi for his initiative, which led to the establishment of a dedicated MSP commission.
According to the LoP, the Central Government is firmly committed to the farmers and is currently working to address seven specific demands submitted by the growers to ensure they receive fair compensation for their hard work.
A Tale of Two Eras: NDA vs UPA
Drawing a sharp contrast between the current administration and the period before 2014, R Ashoka alleged that farmers suffered immensely under the UPA regime. He claimed that during that time, growers were forced to sell their produce at lower rates due to the absence of MSP and often had to wait for years to receive their payments.
Ashoka pointed out that upon the NDA government taking power, it cleared arrears amounting to Rs 16,600 crore that had been left behind by the previous UPA government. He further detailed the systematic increase in the FRP, which rose from an initial Rs 30 to Rs 40, and is projected to reach Rs 365 per quintal by 2026.
Allegations of Cheating and State Negligence
The BJP leader raised serious concerns regarding the "cheating" occurring in the weightage of sugarcane, claiming the state government is ignoring the issue. He highlighted several improvements attributed to the Modi government's policies:
- Payment Efficiency: Ashoka stated that 99% of farmers have received their arrears this year.
- Waste Management: He noted that previously, 7-8% was calculated as waste, but this is now being managed more effectively.
- Industry Growth: He argued that the sugar industry has expanded significantly, leading to increased income for growers and higher GST revenue for the state.
Despite these gains, Ashoka alleged that sugar factories in Karnataka, under the current Congress administration, are charging inconsistent rates and reporting inflated waste figures to cheat the farmers.
Demands for Action and Criticism of CM Shivakumar
The Leader of Opposition urged the state government to establish testing laboratories to provide farmers with the necessary support and transparency. He asserted that the failure to implement the State Advisory Price (SAP) is the primary reason farmers have been forced to take to the streets in protest.
Ashoka also took a swipe at Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, criticizing his "vague" responses regarding discussions with the Central Government. He remarked that while the Chief Minister frequently visits Delhi for various other matters, he has failed to visit the national capital to negotiate and secure the interests of Karnataka's sugarcane growers.