Minister HK Patil Meets Agitating Sugarcane Farmers at Gurlapur Cross; No Breakthrough in Talks

Belagavi: Talks between agitating sugarcane farmers and the state government delegation led by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil remained inconclusive on Wednesday. Farmers gave the government one day to resolve their demands.

Speaking at the protest site across Gurlapur, Minister HK Patil said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had personally asked him to visit the farmers on behalf of the state government and hold talks with them.

“The Chief Minister himself called and directed me to come here and discuss the issue. I have come as his representative to listen to your grievances and find a way forward,” Patil told the protesting farmers.

“I will convey the government’s response to you after discussing the issue with the Prime Minister tomorrow,” he assured.

Patil also invited a delegation of around ten farmer leaders to Bengaluru for further talks with the Prime Minister and relevant ministers. However, no progress was made in the meeting between the minister and farmer representatives, prompting the farmers to set a one-day deadline for the government to take action on their demands. Farmers announced that they will intensify their struggle if their demands are not met by tomorrow evening.