Now Reading: Sugarcane growers intensify agitation in Karnataka, CM urges resumption of harvest
-
01
Sugarcane growers intensify agitation in Karnataka, CM urges resumption of harvest
Sugarcane growers intensify agitation in Karnataka, CM urges resumption of harvest
The Story in Brief
Sugarcane growers demanding a remunerative price intensified their agitation across Kittur Karnataka on Saturday, 31 October 2026, with road blockades disrupting transport in Belagavi, Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Dharwad and Haveri districts. The growers are demanding ₹5,500 a tonne for sugarcane, including an incentive of ₹1,000 a tonne from the state government. They have also urged the Union government to increase the minimum selling price of sugar from ₹31 to ₹60 a kg.
In Belagavi, the bandh evoked a moderate response in the city but had a wider impact in rural areas. At Ugaragol in Savadatti taluk, a blockade on the road to the Renuka Yellamma temple forced devotees to return without darshan. In Vijayapura, farmers surrounded Industries Minister M.B. Patil and demanded his intervention, leading to the police using lathis to disperse the crowd. Farmers alleged that police personnel had abused and assaulted them.
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday appealed to the growers to resume harvesting, cautioning that continued agitation could disrupt operations. He said he had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking intervention. The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene have announced a ‘Jail Bharo’ protest on 2 November at Gurlapur in Mudalgi taluk, saying both state and central governments had failed to meet their demand.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The Hindu and Deccan Herald report the agitation from the ground, detailing blockades and the farmers’ account of police lathi-charge in Vijayapura. The Hindu also notes the farmers’ accusation of police abuse. The Hans India leads with Chief Minister Shivakumar’s appeal to resume harvesting and his letter to the Prime Minister, framing the government as responsive. Deccan Herald and The Hans India report the jail bharo call for 2 November, which The Hindu omits. The CM’s letter is the most concrete government step named, the 2 November protest is the next concrete action from the farmers. Coverage is uniform wire-style reporting with no detectable slant from any outlet on this story.
Coverage: 3 sources, 3 neutral
Sources (3): thehindu.com (neutral report), deccanherald.com (neutral report), thehansindia.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
