BY Vijayendra, BJP state unit president, joins protesting sugarcane farmers demanding higher prices for their crop at Gurlapur Cross in Karnataka’s Belagavi district on November 4.
“Senior ministers are busy playing for power. They are waiting to become CM. In turn, the CM is trying to protect his position. Farmers are on the streets for 4-5 days now, but the leaders are not coming to listen to their woes.”BY VijayendraBJP state unit president
The protesters halted traffic at the Daroor Bridge and sat on the Nippani-Mudhol road for several hours, virtually blocking the road. They called a bandh in Chikkodi, Athani and Mudalagi. Buses have stopped plying in Chikkodi and surrounding areas. Some private offices, schools and colleges were closed in Chikkodi and Athani.
Chunappa Pujari, a farmer leader, demanded that the opposition leaders support them and that the heads of various mutts also join their protest. “We have been protesting for five days now. But no minister or Congress MLA who owns or runs sugar mills has met us. All leaders come only for elections to legislatures or cooperatives. We will not tolerate such apathy anymore. Farmers will teach a lesson to leaders who neglect us,” he said.
“So far, only those leaders who do not own or run sugar mills have visited us or expressed support. They include MPs Jagadish Shettar, PC Gaddigoudar and Iranna Kadadi, MLAs Duryodhan Aiholi and Siddu Savadi and former MLA VI Patil. But other leaders who own sugar mills have not come here,” he said.
Before leaving for Gurlapur, Mr. Vijayendra told reporters in Belagavi that he was deeply disturbed by the Karnataka government’s alleged indifference to farmers’ problems. “Senior ministers are busy playing for power. They are waiting to become CM. In turn, the CM is trying to protect his position. Farmers are on the streets for 4-5 days now, but the leaders are not coming to listen to their woes. The state government should be ashamed of itself,” he said.
“I am the son of former CM BS Yediyurappa, who spent his life agitating for farmers. I have not come here as the leader of an opposition party, but as the son of Mr. Yediyurappa, whose heart beats for farmers,” he said. “In the winter session of the state legislature in Belagavi in 2014, farmer Vithal Arabhavi lost his life due to sugarcane. BS Yediyurappa then fought and succeeded in putting pressure on the then chief minister to solve the problems of sugarcane farmers. But today farmers are facing hardships but the government is not showing any concern,” he said.
“Sugarcane growers are demanding a payment of ₹3,500 per tonne of sugarcane. The state government should have announced the price before the farmers hit the streets. But they didn’t because their government is anti-farmer. Since they can’t be trusted, we have come forward to support the farmers,” said Vijayendra.
According to official figures, sugar mills in Karnataka grind six million tonnes of sugarcane annually. This brings a tax of ₹55,000 crore to the Karnataka government.
“Though the farmers were suffering from heavy rains, the responsible ministers of the respective districts, the revenue minister and the agriculture minister did not go through North Karnataka. The government does not care about the farmers. That is why today the farmers are again taking to the streets to fight for a better price of sugarcane,” he said.
“You know who owns most of the sugar mills in Karnataka. The government should talk to the sugar mill owners to end the stalemate,” he said.
Responding to B. Sriramulu’s claim that the new CM would attend the winter session in Belagavi, Mr. Vijayendra said it was nothing new as suggested by the Congress MLAs themselves. “Everyone knows that there is a possibility of leadership change after Bihar elections,” he said.
Published – November 4, 2025 1:34 PM IST
