December 16: The agitating sugarcane farmers who have arrived in the capital seeking government support for the release of their due payment from sugar factories have said  arresting the factory owners will not resolve their payment issue.

The remarks come after the Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday (December 16) directed the concerned district administration office to arrest the owners of four sugar mills that have defaulted in paying the farmers.

Secretary of Sugarcane Farmers Struggle Committee, Sarlahi, Hari Shyam Raya said that the arrests of sugar factory owners is not a matter of their concern.

“We will not get our money just because the government arrests the sugar factory owners. Therefore, the government must facilitate on compelling them to pay our due amounts instead of arresting them,” said Raya.

The sugarcane farmers of Sarlahi have been protesting at Maitighar Mandala in the capital since the last three days demanding the release of their long-standing dues from the sugar factories.

On the third day of the demonstration, the government issued arrest warrants against the operators of Indira Sugar Mill, Nawalparasi, Lumbini Sugar Mill, Nawalparasi, Annapurna Sugar Mill, Sarlahi and Shree Ram Sugar Mill, Rautahat for not paying the farmers.

The farmers argue that even though the police arrest the operators, they get released on bail soon while the issue of payment remains where it is. Therefore, chairman of the struggle committee Ram Raya says arresting the operators is not a solution to the problem because the main issue is related to their due amount.  

Spokesperson at the home ministry Chakra Bahadur Budha admits arresting the sugar mill owners alone is not the solution but he assured that the defaulters would face strict action. He however did not specify what kind of action the ministry would take. According to Budha, the ministry has directed concerned authorities to arrest the defaulters and take necessary actions.

Meanwhile, the agitating farmers have intensified their protest saying that if the issue is not resolved soon they will demand interest on their due amount of Rs 900 million which the sugar mills are yet to pay. Around 300 sugarcane farmers were present during Tuesday’s protest.