Sugar politics stalls parliament business

Parliament proceedings were completely paralyzed for the first two days of the winter session as sugarcane farmers, with the backing of the opposition parties, protested against a proposed ordinance. The farmers protested against Sugar Control (Amendment) Order, which fixes a uniform Central Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane growers. They forced adjournment of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha till Monday demanding a hike in sugarcane purchase prices. Thousands of sugarcane farmers gathered in New Delhi to protest a Rs35 per quintal drop in price they get for their crop after an Oct. 21 government ordinance. The Government has announced a price of Rs129.85 per quintal for sugarcane during the 2009-10 crushing season under the FRP system, while the Uttar Pradesh State Advisory Price (SAP) has been set between Rs.165 and Rs.170 per quintal. In case a state government fixes SAP higher than the FRP, it will have to pay the difference, according to the proposed sugar ordinance. Farmers want Rs.280 per quintal for their produce.

Farmers from Western UP, who have been demanding a price of Rs 240 per quintal, jammed Central Delhi, while their representatives in Parliament from Ajit Singh-led RLD, Mulayam Singh led-SP and Sharad Yadav-led JD(U) disrupted the functioning of the Lok Sabha, demanding withdrawal of the Order and payment of higher purchase price for sugarcane by mills. The Bharatiya Janata Party asked the government to convene an all-party meeting on the sugarcane pricing policy in the wake of opposition to the Centre's FRP ordinance. The Government will amend the ordinance on sugarcane prices if it affects the interest of farmers, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said. Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh said that the PM has assured Rahul Gandhi that the Centre will amend the ordinance suitably if it was against the interest of farmers. The Government called leaders of all political parties for a breakfast meeting on Monday to find a solution.