Overview
- Farmers leaders announced a temporary pause to the Hubballi Chalo padayatra to consult their wider ranks and wait for the central committee to begin work.
- Union Minister Pralhad Joshi held late‑night talks with growers and said a committee headed by the Centre will examine demands and start functioning in the coming days.
- Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar met protesters and pledged a post‑Dasara meeting of farmers, sugar mill owners and Central officials to seek an implementable solution.
- Protesters are pressing for a sugar MSP of ₹60 per kg, an FRP of ₹5,500 per tonne of cane, full procurement of Karnataka ethanol and higher ethanol rates; leaders say they will resume action if concrete guarantees are not delivered.
- Sugar mills warn that higher prices would strain factories already citing losses, higher production and electricity costs, and differential ethanol procurement by oil marketing companies complicates immediate fixes.