Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) chief and MP Raju Shetti has criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “hoodwinking” sugarcane farmers.

 

Speaking to The Hindu on Monday, the MP from Hatkanangale (in Kolhapur district) accused Mr. Modi of allegedly misrepresenting facts about fair and remunerative price (FRP) arrears.

 

Mr. Shetti was referring to the Prime Minister’s address on Sunday (via video conferencing) to booth-level Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers in Kolhapur, Hatkanangale, Madha and Satara.

 

Twisting facts

“During his address, the PM claimed that 99% farmers were paid their FRP dues in 2016-17. The fact is that sugar prices had remained stable during that year and there was never any serious question of FRP arrears [in 2016-17]…Why is the PM quoting past figures and trying to cover-up the present crisis triggered by the rapid fall in sugar crisis,” Mr. Shetti asked, before adding: “I have never seen a Prime Minister who twisted facts so blatantly.”

 

He said of the 180 sugar factories and cooperatives in the State, barely 11 had paid the full FRP amount to farmers at one go. Mr. Shetti, a former ally of the ruling BJP, hit out at the Devendra Fadnavis government, alleging that a number of corrupt ministers secretly backed errant sugar factory owners refusing to pay farmers.

 

He reiterated his intention to stage a protest rally in front of the Sugar Commissionerate on January 28, demanding full FRP payment to farmers by errant factory owners.

 

“The agitation will only be called off if we get concrete assurances from the government and sugarcane factory owners that they will pay farmers the complete FRP amount. It is not difficult for them to pay the FRP of ₹2,900-₹3,050 per tonne, which is the current rate in the sugar-belt districts of Sangli and Kolhapur,” Mr. Shetti said.

 

In the event the mill owners failed to deposit the full FRP amount into farmers’ bank accounts, he said he would urge the Sugar Commissioner to prosecute the mill owners under the Revenue Recovery Act (RRC).

 

Since last week, SSS activists had stopped harvesting and transporting sugarcane in the sugar heartland in western Maharashtra. SSS activists had torched a couple of sugar mills and locked the field offices of some others, demanding payment of arrears.