Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka on Monday, 26 October sharply criticised All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Mallikarjun Kharge over his remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the statements reflected a deep decline in the Congress party's political culture and exposed its growing frustration with the ruling dispensation.

BJP Condemns Remarks as 'Uncivilised Politics'

Speaking in Bengaluru, Ashoka argued that making derogatory comments about the family of someone holding the country's highest constitutional office was both inappropriate and unbecoming. He alleged that the Congress, having lost the capacity to challenge its opponents on policy or political substance, had fallen back on personal attacks as a substitute for argument.

'People would not accept what he termed uncivilised politics,' Ashoka said, warning that such tactics would further erode the Congress's standing with voters.

Sugarcane Farmers' Agitation: BJP Targets Shivakumar

Ashoka pivoted to the ongoing agitation by sugarcane farmers in Karnataka, accusing Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar of misleading growers. He described the Congress government's proposed meetings with farmers in Belagavi as 'an eyewash', arguing that engagement without concrete outcomes would not satisfy protesters.

He demanded that the state government fix the sugarcane price at ₹5,500 per tonne and take immediate steps to address alleged irregularities in weighing and recovery calculations at sugar factories. Ashoka further alleged that under former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, a price of ₹3,300 per tonne — including a ₹50 factory subsidy — was announced on 7 November last year, but that the state had failed to ensure farmers actually received the subsidy contribution even after sugar factories pursued the matter in court.

Centre's Role and Fair Price Mechanisms

Defending the Union government's record, Ashoka cited the Centre's decision to fix the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane at ₹365 per quintal for the 2026-27 season and noted that a minimum support price for sugar was introduced in 2018. He also said the NDA government had constituted a joint committee headed by former NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand to find a durable solution for the sector.

Ashoka alleged that the state government had been shifting its own obligations onto the Centre rather than fulfilling them independently — a charge that echoes a pattern of centre-state blame-sharing that has become familiar in Karnataka's farm politics.

Factory Viability and Policy Gaps

Raising further concerns about the sugar industry's economic viability, Ashoka alleged a stark disparity in power purchase rates: private companies reportedly receive ₹22 per unit for electricity purchases, while sugar factories are paid only ₹2.80 per unit for electricity they supply. He also claimed that water charges had been raised from ₹5 lakh to ₹1 crore, significantly increasing the burden on mills.

He criticised the government for not introducing a State Advised Price (SAP) for sugarcane, a mechanism used in several other states to provide growers a floor price above the Centre's FRP. Additionally, he alleged that differing recovery rates reported by various factories for identical sugarcane — alongside inflated waste calculations — were causing financial losses to farmers.

Statewide Bandh Warning

Ashoka said farmers had warned of a statewide bandh on Tuesday if their demands remain unaddressed. He urged Chief Minister Shivakumar to act immediately, warning that further delays risk escalating the agitation. This comes amid a broader pattern of farm protests that have periodically disrupted Karnataka's rural economy, particularly during harvesting seasons when price disputes tend to peak.