Union Minister for Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi on Friday (October 2) said a meeting with sugarcane farmers would be held in New Delhi on October 12 to discuss their demands, including an increase in the minimum support price (MSP) for sugar.

Addressing a press conference in Hubballi on Friday (October 2), Mr. Joshi said the Centre had convened the meeting in response to the farmers’ protest and their demand for better prices. “We are not dictators. That is why a meeting with farmers has been called,” he said.

Explaining the distinction between sugar prices and the price paid to sugarcane growers, Mr. Joshi said the MSP for sugar had been introduced when market prices fell sharply. The measure prevents sugar from being sold below the prescribed floor price, he said.

However, an increase in the MSP for sugar would not automatically translate into higher payments to sugarcane farmers, he said, adding that the two prices were not directly linked.

Mr. Joshi said the Union government was implementing the recommendations of the M.S. Swaminathan Commission. Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh were among the major ethanol-producing States, and the Centre was procuring ethanol as part of its policy, he said.

He said State governments had the authority to fix a State Advised Price (SAP) for sugarcane. Karnataka, however, had not fixed an SAP, he alleged, adding that the State government would have to provide funds to meet the resulting payment obligations.

The Minister also criticised the Congress-led State government over its handling of farmers’ issues, citing drought relief, power shortages and the discontinuation of financial assistance under the Kisan Samman scheme. He alleged that the government had failed to introduce adequate new measures to address farmers’ distress.

On the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Mr. Joshi criticised Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar for protesting before the State Election Commission. He alleged that the demonstration was unconstitutional and demanded that a case be registered against the Chief Minister and Cabinet members. He said the SIR process was provided for under the law and was yet to be completed.

Mr. Joshi also accused the State government of granting permissions for distilleries, describing the move as contrary to the interests of farmers and the public.

Asked whether he would return to State politics, he said he had no such plans at present and would continue working at the Centre as long as he had the support of the people and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a related development, Shashikanth Guru of Inchageri Mutt who had allegedly made derogatory remarks about Mr. Joshi during the sugarcane farmers protest in Hubballi recently, has released a video clip conveying the developments pertaining to his meeting with Mr. Joshi and his subsequent remarks during the rally. He said he regretted making such remarks and takes back the words.