Kathmandu, November 9: Minister for Industry, Commerce, and Supplies Lekhraj Bhatta has warned that the sugar mills’ proprietors not paying the dues to the sugarcane farmers would be arrested by writing to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Minister Bhatta issued such a warning while receiving a memo submitted by the sugarcane farmers’ struggle committee from Sarlahi on Sunday (November 8) in the capital.
The committee, led by Rakesh Kumar Mishra, visited the minister at his office in Singha Durbar and submitted the memo stating that the government is yet to implement its written commitment made in January earlier this year.
On the occasion, the agitating farmers also gave an ultimatum to the government to make necessary arrangements for paying back the dues to the farmers before the Chhath festival. They even warned of hitting the streets starting December 12 if the concentered authorities fail to do so.
Responding to them, the minister said,” The Ministry of Home Affairs would be written to arrest the sugar mills’ owners if they delay to pay the sugarcane farmers.
“The farmers would be paid even by selling the lands and other properties of the sugar mills that are already closed.”
