Sugarcane story turns murky

MUMBAI: Sugar politics in Maharashtra is set to take a bitter turn. As the industry debates issues such as excess sugarcane production and export curbs on sugar, more and more farmers are losing patience and resorting to violence.

In one such incident, a farmer was killed on Friday as the police had to cane-charge to control an agitating crowd of sugarcane growers at Nilanga in Latur district.

The victim, Vishwanath Lambote, 50, was part of the protesting group which was insisting that a co-operative sugar factory at Nilanga address the issue of excess sugarcane in the area.

Recently, two other sugar factories in the vicinity — one led by BJP veteran Gopinath Munde and the other by the chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh — witnessed similar violent upsurge. Though there were no casualties then, today’s incident went out of control, resulting in the farmer’s death.

The issue was sought to be raised by MLA Sambhajirao Patil Nilangekar (BJP) at a general body meeting on Friday. But there were already signs of trouble brewing as the local farmers stepped in to voice their resentment, following which the police were called in.

Lambote was killed in the ensuing lathi-charge and at least 10 others suffered serious injuries. The situation in the area is now under control, the police said.

Not long ago, Shetkari Sanghatana had launched an agitation to press for more price for sugarcane. The issue put the government in a fix as it has a large number of ministers in the Deshmukh Cabinet controlling sugar co-operatives.

The government then could mange to buy time by promising to look into the demands. Looks like, it’s fast running out of time.