BANGALORE: Karnataka sugarcane farmers who attempted to lay siege to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommais's residence in Bengaluru were arrested on Monday.

Numerous sugarcane farmers from all around the state had arrived in Bangalore with a list of demands. The demonstrators are calling for the immediate payment of old bills, Rs. 4,500 per tonne of sugarcane, and a suspension of actions over unpaid electrical bills.

The demonstrators claimed that the government had ignored their issues. There are numerous cabinet ministers who own sugar plants; they should step forward to help the sugarcane farmers. They said that for the past four years, the government has not bothered to publish the State Advisory Price (SAP) on sugarcane.

According to Badagalapura Nagendra, head of the YJR State Farmers' Association, the government is coercing farmers into paying their unpaid electricity bills.

"We need CM Bommai to fix the problem. However, all farmers are being held captive. Farmers can be temporarily detained. Once the KRS dam is completely filled, CM Bommai will visit the Mandya district to worship. Numerous farmers would demonstrate with black flags and let the police handle the situation "He challenged.

The state government had committed to pay the electricity expenses for sugarcane producers up till 2017. The government has also given them the assurance that new metres would be installed later and has instructed them to start paying their electrical bills right away.

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