Pune: Raju Shetty Warns of Protest Over Unpaid Sugarcane FRP, Claims Rs 7,000 Crore Still Pending
Pune, 25th March 2025: Former MP Raju Shetty, president of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, has issued a stern warning regarding the non-payment of Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) dues to sugarcane farmers. Despite a clear High Court directive to pay the entire FRP in one installment, many sugar mills have failed to comply, pushing farmers into financial distress. Shetty demanded that farmers be compensated with interest on delayed payments.
Addressing a press conference in Pune on Tuesday (March 25) after submitting a memorandum to Sugar Commissioner Siddharam Salimath, Shetty pointed out discrepancies in official figures. While the Sugar Commissioner’s Office claims that ₹2,300 crore is pending, Shetty asserted that the actual amount is closer to ₹7,000 crore.
Shetty set an eight-day deadline for sugar mills to clear their dues, warning that if payments are not made, farmers will march to the Sugar Commissionerate to demand their rightful payments along with interest.
He also highlighted lack of transparency in the sugar industry, alleging that many sugar mills have not disclosed their revenue-sharing details since 2019, raising serious concerns about accountability. He further criticized the state government’s negligence, citing delays in convening the Sugarcane Price Control Committee, which determines FRP rates and policies.
Shetty accused the government of deliberately planting individuals to make controversial statements to divert public attention from pressing farmer issues, including:
Delayed FRP payments
Failure in soybean procurement
Increasing farmer suicides
Communal riots
Women’s safety concerns
He claimed such distractions were meant to cover up administrative failures and avoid addressing farmers’ grievances.
Former State Sugar Federation President Prithviraj Jachak, Advocate Yogesh Pandey, Pune District President Prabhakar Bangar, and other farmer leaders were present at the press conference.
