NCP backs sugar factories, opposes farmers' protest

MUMBAI: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has predictably come out in the open to protect sugar factories from a possible hike in the price of sugar cane. Laden with a large number of sugar barons, including party chief Sharad Pawar, the NCP on Thursday opposed the Shetkari Sanghatana-sponsored stir demanding a better deal for sugar cane growers.

The NCP has hit out at Sanghatana chief Sharad Joshi for spearheading a “violent stir”. NCP spokesperson Madan Bafna said the sugar factories were the “backbone of the state economy and the violent agitation being led by Mr Joshi could harm the interests of not only factories but also farmers”.

The NCP spokesperson said the state government should do whatever it could to rein in the Shetkari Sanghatana. “There are democratic and peaceful means of agitation,” he said.

He, however, said the party did not have any stand on the central issue of sugar cane pricing. “The state government has already declared a minimum price of Rs 850 per tonne, which means factories cannot pay less than this to the farmers,” Mr Bafna said.

Asked about the state as well as central government’s response to farmers’ suicides in Vidarbha, when the NCP chief himself holds the agriculture portfolio, Mr Bafna said both the governments had initiated measures to curb suicides.

“I don’t know what factors are responsible for suicides, but Mr Pawar has done all he could,” he said when pointed out that suicides continue unabated in Vidarbha despite the relief measures taken by the government.

Suggesting “democratic and peaceful” means like fast for the Shetkari Sanghatana, the NCP spokesperson, however, said veteran Congress leader and former minister Mohan Dharia should call off his proposed fast-unto-death demanding debt-waiver for farmers.