Fight breaks out between factions of farmers over lack of clarity on demands

Police stopping members of different factions of farmers from clashing over lack of clarity in their demands inside the Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi on Monday. | Photo Credit: P.K. BADIGER A minor fight broke out between farmers of different factions inside the Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi on Monday, over lack of clarity in their demands.Some followers of Kodihalli Chandrashekar objected to Chunappa Pujeri’s claim that he will not leave the Suvarna Soudha without getting the authorities to announce ₹4,500 per tonne of sugarcane.

They asked why he settled for ₹4,500 while he was protesting for ₹5,500 per tonne all these days.He tried to reason with them saying that he will demand that the factories pay ₹4,500 per tonne and that the State government release ₹1,000 per tonne. However, this was not accepted by them.Mahantesh Jamadar, a leader from the Kodihalli faction, strongly objected to Mr.

Pujeri’s statement and began shouting. Some others joined the shouting and began charging towards Mr.

Pujeri.Some members of the two factions began pushing around each other. Police officers stopped them.Farmers leaders MLA Darshan Puttannayya and Chukki Nanjundaswamy, who were also in the hall, came towards the group and tried to pacify them.Chief Minister D.K.

Shivakumar, who went to the Saundatti Yallamma Temple, was yet to arrive.Another leader Shashikant Padasalagi Guruji, who is preparing for a protest in Gurlapur, described the development as a politically motivated attempt to attack Mr. Pujeri.

He warned that if anyone were to assault Mr. Pujeri, then, farmers will picket in front of the houses of all legislators, without letting them leave.Later, Mr.

Pujeri dismissed it as a minor altercation. He said that those who objected to his statement had misunderstood him.“They are also my brothers.

I do not have any ill-will against them. It is our joint fight against the government and the sugar factories.

I do not want this to create fissures among us,” he said.“I want to clarify that I hold on to my demand for ₹5,500 per tonne of sugarcane,” he said.