Farmers, RLD members stage protest against sugarcane mills in UP

MEERUT: Farmers and RLD members today staged a protest outside the office of Uttar Pradesh Cane Commissioner against the alleged exploitation by sugarcane mills which 'have not quoted the price of sugarcane'.

"If the government doesn't put an end to the whims of sugarcane mills within 48 hours, RLD along with the farmers will take the protest to the streets and stage chakka-bandh," said RLD-Incharge of Western UP Dr Rajkumar Sangwan.

The sugarcane mills have not quoted the price of sugarcane, he said.

Sangwan said that farmers don't even know the price at which their sugarcane is being purchased, even though a month has passed since the cane was processed.

RLD has accused the mills of becoming totally unrestrained owing to government protection.

A memorandum to Uttar Pradesh Cane Commissioner Harpal Singh was submitted following the protest wherein ten demands were laid out including the purchasing price of sugarcane to be set at Rs 350, as well as making a payment to the farmer within 14 days of deposition of their product, Sangwan added.