KRRS to intensify stir demanding higher price for sugarcane

Mandya, Karnataka, July 4 (UNI) The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha today decided to intensify its agitation, demanding higher price for sugarcane, as its road blockade on the Mysore-Bangalore highway did not evoke any response from the Government side.

The agitation saw vehicular movement to and from the City of Palaces affected for over an hour as sugarcane growers, led by KRRS President K S Puttanniah, blocked the highway from Srirangapatana to Maddur, demanding Rs 1,250 per ton as against Rs 1,100 per ton fixed by the Government.

Later, talking to newspersons here, Mr Puttannaiah termed the price fixation as ''unscientific'' and said the farmers would not accept any price less than Rs 1,250 per ton and would not yield to any pressure. The KRRS decided to hold a dharna tomorrow in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office and lay seige to the DC's office on July six. It had also decided to observe Mandya bandh on July 10 if the Government did not accept their demands.

Meanwhile, Mr Puttannaiah and others met Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who was on his way to Bukanakere to attend a funeral, and requested him to consider their demands. Mr Yediyurappa assured to talk to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy in this regard.

UNI MSP-BSP GD GM RR RN1845