Shashikanth Gururaj, honorary president of the Karnataka State Farmers’ Association (Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha) and Hasirosena, stated that farmer leaders will attend Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s meeting on August 26 to negotiate a sugarcane price of ₹5,500 per tonne. Speaking at a preliminary meeting held at the Gurlapure Pravasimandira in Moodalagi taluk, Gururaj announced that if the demand is met, a victory celebration will be organized in Gurlapure; otherwise, a state-wide bandh will be called for the same day. He urged farmers to prepare for all eventualities.
Gururaj directed farmers from various districts to assemble at Gurlapure Cross on August 25, marking the start of the agitation. He warned that if no victory is achieved on August 26, lakhs of farmers must be ready to blockade roads and continue the struggle from August 27.
Chunappa Poojari, president of the Farmers’ Association, emphasized that if the meeting with the Chief Minister fails, farmers must ensure maximum participation. He detailed the price structure, stating that sugar factories should pay ₹4,500 per tonne, with the state government adding ₹1,000 to reach the total demand of ₹5,500. Poojari requested farmers to bring their women family members to the protests.
Poojari further criticized the current pricing, noting that the sugar sale price has remained unchanged at ₹31 since 2019. He argued that while the Minimum Support Price (MSP) is ₹60, farmers must receive ₹5,500 for their sugarcane. He accused the government and sugar factory owners of exploiting farmers and stated that the movement is not aligned with any specific government or political party.
The meeting was attended by leaders Mallappa Poojari, Ashok from Haveri, Prakash Nayak, Veerabhadra from Athani, Lakshmi Biradar from Babaleshwar, and Sheeshrai Angadi, along with farmer leaders from various districts and Maharashtra, who engaged in serious discussions on the issues.
