Naimat Khan
KARACHI: Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, put all the blame on federal government after police used force against protesting farmers being gathered near Bilawal House, Karachi here on Monday.
Hundreds of sugarcane growers attempted to stage a protest near Bilawal House in Karachi but police didn’t allow them to advance towards Bilawal House, They were flaying delays in the crushing of harvested sugarcane by millers and corruption in the fixing of the official price of sugarcane in the province.
According to reporters, the protesters complained that influential mill owners had been exploiting sugarcane growers and offering them only Rs140 for 40 kilograms of sugarcane instead of Rs180, which is the official price guaranteed by the government.
A police official said the protesters had been asked to take their protest to the Karachi Press Club, but they had not agreed to do so, following which “light action was taken against them in which some 70-80 protesters have been taken into custody”. “There were women too among the protesters, but we haven’t arrested them,” said SSP Clifton Asad Malhi.
Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal later addressed a press conference and claimed that the issue was being politicised, adding that “actual sugarcane growers were not part of today’s drama”.
Siyal held the federal government responsible for the situation and said that the Sindh government had no authority over mill owners till December 15, 2017.
Later, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that his government has vowed to give additional subsidy for export of sugar so that crushing could start but still the federal government has not issued notification for the subsidy it had announced.
This he said while talking to media at First Tripartite Labour Conference here at a local hotel today.
Replying to a question, the chief minister said that the provincial government was sincere with the growers and has notified Rs182 per 40 kg for which the provincial government has already issued the notification.
He added that the federal government in the last CCI meeting had decided to give Rs10.7/kg subsidy for export of sugar and the provincial cabinet in order to thwart the deadlock between the sugarcane farmers and growers decided to given an additional subsidy of Rs 9.3/kg so that millers could get Rs20/kg subsidy to accept Rs182/40 sugar cane price and start crushing. “I am sorry to say that the federal government despite making decision in CCI has not announced it yet,” he said and added “the federal government is responsible for the present crisis,” he said.
He also advised the farmers to demonstrate patience and their matter would be resolved. “I would again talk to the federal government and get it notified,” he said.
