Sugarcane growers intensify protest in Belagavi, demand Rs 3,500 per tonne MSP; BJP extends support
Belagavi (PTI): The sugarcane growers’ protest in Belagavi district demanding a minimum support price of Rs 3,500 per ton for their produce has gathered momentum.
Farmers, under the banner of the Hasiru Sene Farmers Association, have rejected the Rs 3,200 per ton offer from sugar mills. The agitation has brought operations to a halt at 26 sugar factories across the region, with protesters vowing not to settle for anything less than their demand.
All the business establishments in Mudalagi remained shut as farmers gathered in huge numbers.
The protests, which initially began with the demands for State Advisory Price (SAP) for sugarcane, have now spread to Athani, Chikkodi, Hukkeri, Bailhongal, Mudalagi, Gokak and neighbouring areas.
In Gokak town, the agitation took a new turn as students joined farmers in staging roadblocks at key intersections, throwing traffic out of gear on major routes connecting Belagavi, Savadatti, Mudalagi and Yaragatti.
Protesting farmers have urged the state government to adopt the Maharashtra sugar payment model, which they say ensures structured and timely payments for cane growers.
Meanwhile, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra visited the protest site, extending his party’s support to the farmers.
Vijayendra appealed to the Congress government in the state to heed the 'legitimate demands' of the sugarcane growers.
Farmers in Gurlapur village in Belagavi district have been staging protests for the past several days, demanding that the state government announce the State Advisory Price (SAP) for sugarcane.
"Today, the sugarcane growers and farmers are protesting on the streets due to the Congress government's indifferent attitude. We are compelled to hit the road and support their agitation. This is the reason that I have come here," the Shikaripura MLA told reporters here.
According to him, the state government makes a profit of Rs 56,000 crore from the six million tonnes of sugar produced from sugarcane. Apart from sugar, the state also earns from its byproducts such as molasses, ethanol and biogas.
"If the state earns Rs 56,000 crore, then the state government has some duty. If it is not coming forward to listen to the woes of the people, this shows how much concerned this Congress government is about the farmers and sugarcane growers. This is what the farmers are questioning."
Asked if it was shameful that the dispute remains unresolved despite big politicians owning sugar factories and having the ability to fix it quickly, Vijayendra said, "We all know who owns sugarcane factories. Today, I am here not only as the BJP state president or Shikaripura MLA, but also as the son of former Chief Minister and farmer leader B S Yediyurappa. It is my duty to come to take part in the agitation by farmers."
The BJP state chief insisted that the government should speak to the sugar factory owners. ROH
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Bill to regulate deepfakes tabled in Lok Sabha
New Delhi (PTI): A Private Member's Bill seeking a clear legal framework for regulation of deepfakes has been introduced in the Lok Sabha.
The Regulation of Deepfake Bill, introduced by Shiv Sena leader Shrikant Shinde in the House on Friday, aims to protect citizens by mandating prior consent from individuals depicted in deepfake content.
"Misuse of deepfakes for harassment, deception and misinformation has escalated, creating an urgent need for regulatory safeguards," Shinde said.
The Bill also lists penalties for offenders creating or disseminating deepfake content with malicious intent.
"With advancements in artificial intelligence and deep learning, deepfake technology has emerged as a significant tool for media manipulation. While the technology has potential applications in education, entertainment and creative fields, it also poses severe risks when misused, threatening individual privacy, national security and public trust," Shinde said in the statement of objects and reasons in the Bill.
The proposed Bill seeks to establish a clear legal framework to govern the creation, distribution and application of deepfakes in India, said Shinde, a three-term Lok Sabha member from Kalyan.
The Bill also seeks to establish the Deepfake Task Force, a dedicated body to combat national security implications and evaluate the influence of deepfakes on privacy, civic participation, and potential election interference.
The task force will collaborate with academic and private sector institutions to develop technologies that detect manipulated content, thereby promoting credibility in digital media.
The Bill also proposes to establish a fund to support public and private sector initiatives in the detection and deterrence of advanced image manipulation.
A Private Member's Bill is a procedure of Parliament that enables lawmakers, who are not ministers, to draw attention to issues that might not be represented in Government Bills or to highlight the issues and gaps in the existing legal framework that require legislative intervention.
