KRCU Postpones October 14 Exams Amid Karnataka Sugarcane Farmers’ Protests

KRCU exams postponed due to protest by sugarcane farmers in Karnataka

Students scheduled to appear for examinations at Kittur Rani Channamma University (KRCU) on October 14 will have to wait for a revised schedule. The university postponed all examinations planned for the date because of the ongoing protest by sugarcane farmers in multiple places in Belagavi district of Karnataka.

University officials said students would be informed about the new examination date. The decision came as farmers’ protests continued across parts of Karnataka over the price of sugarcane and the minimum selling price (MSP) of sugar.

Farmers block roads across four districts

On October 13, sugarcane growers blocked roads at several places in Belagavi, Dharwad, Gadag and Haveri districts. The farmers were demanding a higher price for sugarcane and a revision of the MSP of sugar.

The protests followed the failure of talks between farmers’ representatives and Union Ministers in New Delhi on Monday (October 12). The meeting did not produce an immediate solution to the farmers’ demands.

The growers are seeking a remunerative price for sugarcane that covers production costs, an increase in the MSP of sugar and other measures to protect their interests. The continued road blockades formed the immediate backdrop to the university’s decision to postpone the examinations scheduled for October 14.

The blockades were held on national highways at Yarikoppa Cross and Tegur near Dharwad, Gabbur Cross and Noolvi Cross near Hubballi, Bankapur in Haveri district, and Mulagund Cross, Halligudi Cross and Hitnal Toll in Gadag district.

Although the call was to block the highways from dawn to dusk, most of the blockades were cleared by the afternoon. The protests continued beyond sunset at a few places.

Blockade continues near Yarikoppa Cross

The road blockage near Yarikoppa Cross on the Pune-Bengaluru national highway began as early as 9 a.m. and continued until late in the evening. Several farmer leaders reached the protest venue in the evening and addressed the protesters.

The road blockade subsequently continued beyond 7 p.m. As a precautionary measure, police personnel were deployed at the various places where roads had been blocked.

Hubballi-Dharwad traffic police diverted vehicles to minimise disruption. Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner Bhushan Borase and Dharwad district Superintendent of Police Gunjan Arya visited the protest venues to take stock of the situation.

Source: The Hindu