Talks fail, farmers to launch agitation on Feb 18

Bangalore, Feb 16 (UNI) With 'final' round of talks between sugar cane growers and Advisor to Governor Rameshwar Thakur failing to reach an agreement on MSP here today, the sugarcane farmers have decided to go ahead with their proposed 'Jail Bharo' agitation from February 18.

Talking to UNI, State Farmers' Association Working President Kodihalli Chandrashekhar said the government had failed to consider their demand for a hike in Minimum Support Price (MSP) of sugarcane to Rs 1100 per tonne.

Governor's Advisor V Krishnakumar, who had failed to give any concrete assurance in this regard, had appealed to us to withdraw the 'Jail Bharo' agitation.

He had promised that the government would come to a conclusion and make an announcement on the issue on February 18.

''We have communicated that if the government's announcement is in accordance with our demand, we will withdraw our agitation,'' he added.

UNI MV AJ RAR GC2038