Rashtriya Janta Dal today threatened to withdraw support to the UPA government at Centre if it "failed to ensure adequate price" for sugarcane in Uttar Pradesh.
Alleging the Centre of working against the interest of farmers, RJD general secretary Ashok Singh said the minimum support price fixed by the Central government at Rs129.82 for per quintal of sugarcane is not acceptable.
The RJD will withdraw support to the Congress-led UPA government, if it fails to address the grievances of the farmers, he told reporters here.
Meanwhile, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Mahendra Singh Tikait announced that the farmers will stage a demonstration on November 16 demanding increase in the minimum support price of sugarcane.
"Sugarcane growers will not sell their produce below the rate of Rs280 per quintal. The government has fixed the rate to serve the interest of sugar mill owners but the farmers will not allow any sugar mill to run unless their demands are met," Tikait said.
Yesterday, a group of farmers staged a protest in western UP and disrupted the crushing of sugarcane in the area.
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