Sugarcane growers are protesting to other towns in Belagavi district

Protesting sugarcane farmers park tractors to block the National Highway at Hattargi as their strike enters its second day in Belagavi district on Wednesday. | Photo credit: PK BADIGER

The sugarcane farmers’ protest, which began in Belagavi on Tuesday, spread to other places in the district on Wednesday.

Farmers in Gokaku, Mudalagi, Gurlapur, Munnolli and other villages and towns started rasta roko on nearby roads in protest.

Meanwhile, traffic on the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway between Hubballi and the Maharashtra border at Kuganoli was completely stopped.

Police diverted vehicles through alternate routes that can connect Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra through state highways and district highways.

Some diviners met with the protesters and expressed support for their cause.

Sri Nijagunananda Swami of Bailur Math said that the protest is not against any individual or party but against the anti-agricultural policy of the government. If the government of any party at the center and in the state can make policies favorable to trade and industry, then the same government should be able to make policies that ensure the welfare and prosperity of farmers.

“There is no confusion. That is why I feel that the farmers’ demands are fair and that the movement is non-political,” he said.

Sugarcane farmers participate in Hubballi Chalo padayatra from Hattargi in Belagavi district on Wednesday. | Photo credit: PK BADIGER

Sri Rajayogindra Swami of Kittur Kalmath termed the protest as historic as farmers are the last section of society to protest against injustice.

Sri Rajayogindra Swami of Kittur Kalmath and Sri Nijagunananda Swami of Bailur Math met protesting sugarcane farmers at Hire Bagewadi in Belagavi district on Wednesday. | Photo credit: PK BADIGER

They suffer injustice not only from people but also from nature. Both are given a raw deal. However, they continue to suffer silently. They don’t speak out against their condition as often as other parts of society. They have now taken to the streets to demand justice and a fair price.

“The movement that started here will spread across the country,” he said.

KRRS leader Chunappa Pujeri said the protest will not be called off until the Union government ensures a revised MSP of ₹60 per kg sugar and ₹5,500 per tonne sugarcane.

He also said oil companies should buy all ethanol produced in the state. Their submission should not be discriminatory. Now they buy large quantities from Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, but much less from Karnataka. This should stop, he said.

Farmers continued to raise slogans against Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi and demanded his resignation.

Meanwhile, they conducted road blockade at three places in Belagavi district – Kuganoli, Hattaragi and Hire Bagewadi.

A large number of trucks have been waiting on the highway since Tuesday. Some of them contain food and fuel, police said. They estimate that the movement of goods from Pune in Maharashtra to Satara, Kolhapur, Belagavi, Hubballi, Davangere, Chitradurga, Tumkur and Bengaluru has been affected.

On Wednesday, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan met some leaders and urged them to end the blockade of national highways. The Deputy Commissioner said that Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has sent a message that the state government is with them and will take all necessary steps to ensure that they get FRP and do not suffer injustice from the sugar mills.

However, the protesters refused to back down, saying that they are not withdrawing until the Union government sends a clear message about revising MSP and FRP.

Published – 14 Oct 2026 19:52 IST