Stories
Outburst in Sangli as sugarcane vehicles torched over price row
- •The protest over sugarcane prices in Sangli took a violent turn with a sugarcane-transporting vehicle being set on fire.
- •Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana leader Raju Shetti and farmers have been staging a sit-in protest on the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway for 20 hours.
- •Farmers are demanding a first installment of Rs 5500 per ton for sugarcane amidst rising production and fertilizer costs.
- •Thousands of freight trucks and passenger vehicles are stranded in long queues due to the massive traffic gridlock on the highway.
Key Questions Answered
The protests intensified after a meeting with Union ministers in Delhi regarding sugarcane prices proved inconclusive. Led by Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana leader Raju Shetti, farmers blocked the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway for 20 hours and staged sit-ins, demanding a rate of ₹5,500 per ton or a first installment of ₹5,500.
The organization has demanded a rate of ₹5,500 per ton or ₹5,500 as the first installment for sugarcane, citing soaring production costs, increased fertilizer prices, higher labor expenses, and rising inflation. They have also sought a minimum guaranteed sugar price of ₹50 per kilogram and an advance payment of ₹5,000.
The protest, which included blocking the highway for 20 hours and setting a sugarcane-transporting vehicle on fire in Sangli, caused massive traffic disruptions. Thousands of freight trucks and passenger vehicles became stranded in long queues, prompting the administration and police to advise motorists to avoid the route.
