Not colluding with sugar mills: CM

Sugarcane growers, who had rejected the price of Rs 2,500 a tonne fixed by the govt, had staged protests,demanding that it be raised to Rs 3,500 per tonne

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today refuted the opposition charge his government has colluded with sugar mill owners on providing an incentive of Rs 150 per tonne of sugarcane in addition to the already announced State Advisory Price of Rs 2,500 per tonne.

"There is no truth in the Opposition's charge that the government has colluded with the sugar mill owners," he said as Opposition BJP Leader Jagadish Shettar sought to move an adjournment motion on the issue.

The government had come under intense pres-sure to increase the State Advised Price (SAP) after a protesting sugarcane farmer committed suicide in front of the state secretariat during the winter session at Belgaum in November last. Sugarcane growers, who had rejected the price of Rs 2,500 a tonne fixed by the government, had staged protests,demanding that it be raised to Rs 3,500 per tonne.

Siddaramaiah said the government is ready for a debate on the issue and would give appropriate answers to the queries and charges levelled against the government. Shettar alleged the government has colluded with sugar mill owners on the issue of giving Rs 150 incentive. "The government neglected the issue," he said.

However, the House witnessed pandemonium with opposition demanding a debate.

JDS MLA Y S V Datta and Shettar demanding a detailed debate on the issue. Intervening, Speaker Kagodu Thimappa withheld consent to the adjournment motion and allowed the debate to be held under a different Rule of the House.