High controversy after Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy calls agitating sugarcane farmers 'goondas'

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy stirred controversy with his distasteful remarks against the sugarcane farmers, who are protesting in the state, seeking a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for sugarcane. HD Kumaraswamy regarded the protesting farmers who barged into the legislative complex as ‘goondas’, accusing them of defaming the entire community of farmers with their actions.

“Our farmers are tolerant and peace-loving. When I go to meet them(farmers) in villages they remove their footwear, keep them aside and greet us. But, what we witnessed recently is anarchy. They're (farmers) attitude is similar to burglars. Our media friends beautifully highlighted how some tried to break-into the Suvarna Soudha. Do you call them farmers? There is a limit to my patience. Those people who are behaving that way are not farmers. They've destroyed the integrity of farmers, they're goondas,” said the Karnataka Chief Minister criticizing the protesting farmers.

Kumaraswamy’s brother and Pwd Minister HD Revanna also made similar remarks against the farmers, asserting that ‘burning tractors and throwing sugarcane on streets is not the right thing to do’.

“Burning tractors, throwing sugarcane on the streets is not right. Let them protest peacefully, we have no objection. We must discuss the issue. We cannot just look at the problems faced by farmers. The factory owners too have been affected. Sugar factories across the nation are facing a bad situation. The centre must intervene and provide support price to their crops. They cannot keep approaching Kumaraswamy, does he have a currency printing machine,” said Revanna.

Amid the controversy, opposition BJP took to Twitter to attack the JD(S) leader over his remarks:

On Sunday, a group of farmer, driving trucks loaded with sugarcane, gatecrashed into the legislative complex in Karnataka’s Belagavi district, “Suvarna Vidhana Soudha”, protesting against the Karnataka CM’s abrupt cancellation to visit the farmers.

Farmers in Belagavi have been protesting for the last few days demanding clearance of their pending arrears by sugar factories for the cane supplied and announcement of purchase price for sugarcane for the current season as had been done in neighbouring Maharashtra.

The farmers had even threatened to disrupt the winter session of the state legislature which is scheduled to be held in Suvarna Vishana Soudha next month.

(With PTI inputs)