BJP, RLD protest over low sugarcane prices

The Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today held demonstrations here to protest against the price for sugarcane announced by the Uttar Pradesh government.
Terming the state government as "anti-farmer", BJP's Kisan Morcha State President Vijaypal Tomar said injustice has been done to farmers by not increasing the state advisory price (SAP) of sugarcane.
The state Cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had yesterday decided to maintain the price of early ripening variety at Rs 290, normal variety at Rs 280 and late variety at Rs 275 per quintal, which is the same as last season.

Meanwhile, the RLD has submitted a memorandum to the divisional commissioner, addressed to the Governor demanding the state advisory price to be a minimum of Rs 350.
The government has favoured sugarcane owners while ignoring the farmers, RLD's Western UP in-charge Raj Kumar Sangwan said.
He said that the party would not tolerate any injustice done to farmers and threatened to block roads and railways if the issue was not resolved.