Farmers' Fury In Karnataka: Protest Over Sugarcane Price Turns Violent In Belagavi

This special report covers the escalating protest by sugarcane farmers in Belagavi, Karnataka, which saw incidents of stone pelting as cultivators blocked the Bengaluru-Pune National Highway. The Chief Minister of Karnataka has blamed the central government for the crisis and has written to the Prime Minister seeking an urgent meeting. In a meeting with sugar factory owners, the Chief Minister reportedly questioned their claims of losses, asking, 'If running a sugar factory is so difficult, how come one owner ends up with two or three factories?'. Farmers are demanding a Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of ₹3,500 per tonne, citing that the current rates are not sustainable and that neighbouring states offer better prices. The protest has drawn widespread support and has led to a deadlock, with farmers refusing to back down until their demands are met by the state government and sugar mills.