BJP threatens to take sugarcane to Maharashtra

Hyderabad, Oct 31 (UNI) Extending support to the sugarcane growers stir in Andhra Pradesh against the State Government's alleged 'refusal' to hike the minimum support price(MSP) for sugarcane, the Bharatiya Janata Party today threatened to take the farmers produce to neighbouring Maharashtra.

Talking to newspersons here, BJP National Secretary B Datattreya alleged that on one hand, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar had succumbed to sugar mills lobby by allowing hike in recovery rate from 8.5 per cent to 9 per cent, on the other hand, the State had turned a 'deaf ear' to the peasants' demand for a fair price of Rs 1500 per tonne, besides meeting the cost of transport and harvesting.

Terming as 'unjust' rs 1150 per tonne offered to the growers in the State, he made it clear that ''The BJP will have no option but to take sugarcane stocks to Maharashtra, if the Government fails to respond positively''.

While the farmers in Gujarat were getting Rs 2100 per tonne, Maharashtra were getting Rs 1400 per tonne, besides cost of harvesting and transport, he informed, demanding withdrawal of all cases registered against farmers for resorting to stir to press their demand.

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