In a statement released today in this connection she said that as the minority DMK government led by Karunanidhi was refusing to give a sustainable price to the farmers who give the people the sweet-tasting cane, not only the livelihood of sugarcane farmers but the very cultivation of sugarcane in Tamil Nadu had become a question mark. As a result, the price of sugar was spiralling out of control taking it out of the reach of common people.  

Ms Jayalalithaa recalled that before the 1996 assembly elections,  Karunanidhi had given an assurance that a sum of 1,000 rupees would be paid for a tonne of sugarcane. But after coming to power, he had not only not fulfilled his promise but had also aided the South Indian Sugar Mill owners association to file cases in the Madras High Court and later in the Supreme Court and secured a  stay on the state government from announcing a state advised price for sugarcane. This was the charge made by farmers at that time. Later, it was due to her efforts that Tamil Nadu's chief Public Prosecutor argued before the Supreme Court and an order was secured in 2004 that the state government may announce a state advised price.  

During the 2005-2006 grinding season, she had ordered that a sum of 1,014 rupees - comprising of the union government announced support price of 795 rupees, and the state government's support price of 219 rupees - be paid per tonne of sugarcane. This apart, it was during her tenure that an order was passed that the mill management must bear the hire charges of vehicles. Due to the steps taken during her tenure, sugar was sold at between 12 rupees 50 paise and 14 rupees per kilogram in the open market. In fact, at one stage, the price of sugar in the open market was lesser than the price of sugar sold through PDS shops.  

Ms Jayalalithaa charged that the only achievement of Karunanidhi to was to reverse the situation, which was favourable for sugarcane farmers and sugarcane industry during her tenure, into one which was unfavourable in the four years since the minority DMK government assumed office.  

After the minority DMK government took charge, the union government had hiked the support price to sugarcane to an extent of 503 rupees 40 paise. However, the minority DMK government had reduced the state government's support price by 80 rupees. In other words, the minority DMK government's chief minister Karunanidhi had the dubious credit of reducing the state government's support price which was 219 rupees in 2005-2006 to 139 rupees.  

Ms Jayalalithaa gave several statistics to unmask chief miniser Karunanidhi's real attitude towards sugarcane farmers.

In 2005-2006 the union government announced support price was 795 rupees and the state government's support price was 219 rupees  making a total price of 1,014 rupees per tonne of sugarcane.  

In the next year 2006-2007 the union government hiked the support price by seven rupees 50 paise to 802 rupees fifty paise. The state government on its part had hiked its support price by three rupees fifty paise to 222 rupees and fifty paise. Thus the farmers were given a total support price of 1,025 rupees per tonne of sugarcane, which was just 11 rupees higher than the previous year.  

In 2007-2008 the union government hiked its support by a paltry 9 rupees 30 paise to 811 rupees 80 paise. the state government for its part reduced its support price by 30 paise to 222 rupees 20 paise. The farmers were ultimately given a support price of 1,034 rupees per tonne of sugarcane, a raise of just 9 rupees over the previous year.  

In 2008-2009 the union government had not made any change in its support price. The state government effected an hike of 66 rupees to take its support price to 288 rupees 20 paise. In all the farmers were given a total support price of 1100 rupees per tonne of sugarcane.  

In 2009-2010 the union government hiked its support price by 265 rupees 80 paise to 1077 rupees sixty paise and the state government hiked its advised price by 71 rupees sixty paise to 359 rupees 80 paise. The sugarcane farmers thus got a sum of 1,437 rupees 40 paise per tonne of sugarcane.  

However, the union government revised its support price for 2009-2010 and effected a further hike of 220 rupees 80 paise to 1,298 rupees 40 paise per tonne of sugarcane. However, the state government instead of increasing its state advised price, had reduced the support price by 220 rupees 80 paise to reduce it to just 139 rupees. Therefore in effect, the farmers did not get any increase in the price of sugarcane even though the union government had increased its advised price for sugarcane.  

Therefore, from 2006-2007 to 2009-2010 the union government had hiked its support price by a total of 503 rupees 40 paise. But the state government, instead of increasing, had reduced the state's support price by 80 rupees per tonne of sugarcane.  

Ms Jayalalithaa said that the sugarcane farmers had been pushed to the state of abandoning cultivation of sugarcane in the face of the anti-farmer actions of the minority DMK government and due to increase in wages, increase in prices of raw materials, severe powercuts and hike in transportation costs.  

Pointing out that sugarcane production which was 21.38 lakh metric tonnes in 2005-2006 had reduced to a mere 16.16 lakh metric tonnes in 2008-2009, Ms Jayalalithaa said that this clearly reflected the mindset of the sugarcane farmers. She said that it would not be an exaggeration to state that this is one of the reasons for the price of sugar spiralling to 44 rupees per kilogram under the present minority DMK regime.  

Ms Jayalalithaa said that during her tenure, when a quintal of sugar was sold for 1250 rupees, a sum of 1014 rupees was paid to procure a tonne of sugarcane. However at present when a qunital of sugar is being sold for over 4000 rupees, the minority DMK government was giving a support price of just 1437 rupees 40 paise per tonne of sugarcane. This clearly showed the anti-farmers attirude of the rulers, she charged.  

Ms Jayalalithaa pointed out that the support price for sugarcane had been fixed at 2100 rupees per tonne in Uttar Pradesh. She said that in all the states the support price for sugarcane was more than that extended in Tamil Nadu. Private co-operative sugarcane mills in north India were paying up to 2250 rupees per tonne. Even the private sugarcane mills in Tamil Nadu were giving up to 1800 rupees per tonne. At the same time, only a sum of 1437 rupees 40 paise per tonne of sugarcane was being paid by the cooperative and public sector sugarmills. In other words, the private sugar mills in Tamil Nadu were giving a higher price than the cooperative and public sector sugar mills.

Ms Jayalalithaa said that it was condemnable that Karunanidhi was refusing to hike the support price for sugarcane under such  circumstances.  

She said that the sugarcane farmers knew fully well that it was the AIADMK that had raised its voice in support of the sugarcane farmers even when the union government had ordered that the state governemnt should not announce the state advised price for sugarcane. The union government had been forced to withdraw the order as a result of this. Likewise the farmers were well aware that the AIADMK had raised its voice in Parliament when section 5A, concerning the profit sharing and additional price recommended by the Bhargava commission was removed.  

Ms Jayalalithaa said that it was the duty of a state government to give a sustainable price to sugarcane. Otherwise, the situation would worsen to such an extent that there would be no sugarcane cultivation in Tamil Nadu and sugar would have to be imported on a large scale. As a consequence, the price of sugar may rise even further.  

Ms Jayalalithaa said that if a country had to be prosperous and if the people were to live prosperously, there should be a bountiful harvest. Only then the prices would be under control. However, only smuggling and hoarding od commodities were thriving under the present minority DMK regime. She said that though the minority DMK government had been advised by the AIADMK on the need to hike the support price for sugarcane through statements, in the state assembly, through resolutions in the executive commitee and the general council of the party, through demonstrations held by the party and when she personally stressed the demand in the state assembly on the 11th of January this year, it had all fallen on deaf ears.  

The minority DMK government's actions were only aimed at  breaking the spine of the farmers who were the backbone of the nation.  

Ms Jayalalithaa announced that a massive protest demonstration led by her would be held at Vizhupuram on the 13th of this month at 10 AM to condemn the minority DMK government which had not hiked the support price for sugarcane, and to demand a minimum support price of 2500 rupees per tonne of sugarcane. The demonstration was also to urge that the sugar mill managements must bear the cost of harvesting and to express the AIADMK's complete support to the sugarcane farmers.  

Ms Jayalalithaa asked the functionaries of the various wings of the party, local body representatives and party cadres to participate in the demonstration in large numbers. She also appealed to the people, particularly farmers to participate in the protest demonstration and extend their support to the agitation which was being organised for a cause concerning their welfare.