Congress stages protest outside ITC factory near Yelwal over tobacco price crash

Congress leaders led a farmers’ demonstration outside the ITC factory near Yelwal on the outskirts of Mysuru on Friday (March 13), protesting against the sharp fall in tobacco prices.

Though the party had earlier threatened to lock the factory premises as part of the protest, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) spokesperson M. Lakshmana, who participated in the demonstration, said the protesters withdrew after warning the company to increase its procurement and offer better prices to farmers.

Mr. Lakshmana said tobacco prices, which had dropped to around ₹240 per kg after companies scaled down procurement, showed signs of recovery on March 13.

According to him, the price increased to around ₹290 per kg on March 13, and the company had assured that it would raise its procurement to about 47%.

However, he said the Congress had demanded that tobacco companies pay farmers at least ₹320 to ₹350 per kg.

Mr. Lakshmana also criticised Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, Mysuru MP, and H.D. Kumaraswamy, Mandya MP and Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, alleging that they had done little to address the farmers’ concerns.

He claimed the two leaders were merely submitting memorandums to Union Ministers and ensuring that photographs of the submissions appeared in the media. “They are using the issue only for political mileage and are not sincerely working for the welfare of farmers,” he alleged.

Manjunath, former Hunsur MLA, Nithin, Congress leader from Periyapatna, and others were present at the protest.