Even as an all-party delegation from Maharashtra,along with the representatives of agitating sugarcane farmers,will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Tuesday,the farmers led by Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathana have decided to hold a sit-in agitation in front of the residence of Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan in Karad and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Baramati. The farmers said they will also take out a "bangles morcha" at the residence of sugar industry captains. "The agitation will be held on Wednesday," a farmer leader said. The farmers have decided to intensify their agitation after a meeting between Chavan and Raju Shetty,MP and farmer leader,failed to resolve vexed issue of sugarcane prices for the current crushing season. "Not every thing depends on the meeting with the Prime Minister. Our fight is with the state government which has to take a stand on the issue," Shetty said. Shetty said said though the Chief Minister has requested them to wait till a meeting with Prime Minister is held,he said their agitation would continue till the issue is resolved once and for all. The farmer leaders also said that they would not allow Chavan and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar to visit the Yashwantrao Chavan memorial in Karad to mark his death anniversary. Shetty said the farmers are demanding Rs 3000 per tonne cane price which the sugar industry is refusing to pay. "Last year,they paid Rs 2600 per tonne cane price. This year,they said there is less demand for sugar and would therefore pay less which is not acceptable to us," he said.
