HD Kumaraswamy says his party stands with sugarcane farmers

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy | Photo credit: special arrangement

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy said that his party always stands behind the sugarcane growers on their genuine demands and will personally take up the matter with Union Minister Pralhad Joshi.

Speaking to reporters in Hassan on Sunday (October 18, 2026), Mr. Kumaraswamy said that Mr. Joshi, the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, discussed the matter with the Union Agriculture Minister and formed a committee to look into the farmers’ demands. The Union Government was awaiting the committee’s report. “We’ll see what the commission recommends,” he said.

The Union government was waiting for the committee’s report. “We will see what the committee’s recommendations would be,” he said.

Reacting to Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s assurance to the protesting farmers, Mr Kumaraswamy said he expected the Chief Minister to announce relief immediately, given that he had visited protesters in Belagavi amid Dasara celebrations. Instead, Mr. Shivakumar told them that he would call a meeting of growers and factory owners after the festival. “We will see what decisions he takes after the meeting,” he said.

The former chief minister said he and his party will always stand by the farmers. During his own tenure as chief minister, his government waived off farm loans, including those he had taken from nationalized banks, he said.

Published – 18 Oct 2026 15:44 IST