Pune: The talks to resolve the sugarcane
price hike issue remained inconclusive on Thursday, as state
cooperation minister Harshavardhan Patil sought more time to
discuss certain 'policy matters' with Chief Minister
Prithviraj Chavan.
After the day-long discussions with the representatives
of the agitating sugarcane growers here, Patil said, "We will
continue the talks tomorrow after consulting the Chief
Minster," and added that he was confident of ending the
stalemate.
Reacting to Patil's statement, farmers' leader and MP
Raju Shetty said the government was employing delaying
tactics.
"My fast will continue till our demands are met and the
agitation will be intensified if the talks fail tomorrow," he
said.
Shetty's fast will enter the fifth day tomorrow. The
farmers are demanding a price of Rs 2,350 per tonne of
sugarcane.
Maharashtra Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan has called
for a "practical solution" to the sugarcane growers' demand,
stating that the "mathematics" of sugar industry should be
considered while working out the solution.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, November 10, 2011, 22:52