In Milan, Mamata questions BJP about farmer deaths
Milan, Sep 26 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday questioned the BJP about the lynchings and encounter killings in Uttar Pradesh, and the farmer suicides in Maharashtra and Rajasthan.
Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's frequent foreign trips, Banerjee claimed that the country has not profited from his visits abroad.
"I ask them why so many farmers have committed suicide in Rajasthan and Maharashtra," which have Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments, she told the media in this Italian city where she has come scouring for investments for her state.
"They also have a government in Uttar Pradesh. Why is that hundreds of people are killed there in the name of encounters? Why are people being lynched there?"
Banerjee said people aren't aware of such happenings (in BJP-ruled states) because the "national media is silent".
"Wherever they have a government, people have been murdered in thousands, the number of unemployed has shot up," she said.
Asked about her visits abroad to scour investments for Bengal, Banerjee replied: I don't go abroad often, only once a year, and that too to draw investments for our annual investors' meet Bengal Global Business summit.
"On the other hand, Narendra Modi goes abroad 365 times every year. But the country has not profited from any of his tours," she said.
"Nobody dares to question Modi about her trips. Some chief ministers have their own planes. But I travel in regular flights," she said.
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Karnataka govt fulfilled Rs 100/tonne aid promise to cane farmers: Minister
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Sugar Minister Shivanand Patil on Tuesday said the state government had taken multiple measures to support sugarcane farmers and fulfilled its promise of providing additional financial assistance, while asserting that most farmers were satisfied this year.
Replying to BJP MLC N Ravikumar during zero hour in the legislative council, Patil said the government had already acted on several farmer-centric demands and continued to explore further support measures for both farmers and sugar factories.
"In Karnataka's history, if any government has supported sugarcane farmers twice, it is the government of Siddaramaiah. This time as well, we had promised to provide Rs 50 per tonne from the government and Rs 50 per tonne from factory owners, and we have fulfilled that promise," the minister said.
He maintained that farmers are not in distress; in fact, most farmers are satisfied this year, adding that the government would continue efforts to ensure their well-being.
However, Patil questioned the nature of the issues raised by Ravikumar, stating, "Most of the issues you mentioned seem to favour factory owners. I am not sure whether you are speaking on behalf of farmers or factory owners."
He noted that the government had also taken steps to address concerns of sugar mill owners.
The minister said that the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with sugar factories for cogeneration had not been renewed in some cases, earlier, due to the availability of cheaper wind and solar energy.
"Some PPAs have been cancelled, while some continue...We are considering reviewing this and possibly entering into new PPAs next year," he said, adding that open access allowed factories to sell power in other states where tariffs were higher.
He further said the government was examining demands such as exemption of water usage tax and extending support to both cooperative and private sugar mills.
Highlighting issues requiring central intervention, Patil said the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for sugar had not been revised since 2019 despite repeated representations.
"We have suggested differential pricing, one for essential consumption and another for industrial use," he said, citing large-scale usage by beverage companies.
On ethanol, he said, while incentives like a six per cent interest subvention were provided, lack of regulation on production capacity had led to overcapacity.
"Only 10 to 13 per cent of production is being procured, making factories financially unviable," he noted.
The minister said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had written to the Centre on November 6 and 8, 2025, and a delegation had also met Union Minister Prahlad Joshi to press for revision of sugar MSP and higher ethanol procurement or pricing.
Inviting cooperation, Patil said he was willing to lead a delegation, including opposition members, to take up the matter with the Centre.
The minister underlined that Karnataka was among the top three sugar-producing states and emphasised the sector's importance.
"If a single factory survives, it supports around 5,000 people... this is a vital industry, and with the support from both the state and central governments, it can thrive," he added.
