Date:21/07/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/07/21/stories/2006072108320300.htm

Karnataka - Bijapur

Dissident faction to hold farmers' meeting today

Staff Correspondent

Police have been deployed at Jnanayogi Shivakumar Sugars Pvt. Ltd. in Indi taluk

BIJAPUR: A large contingent of police personnel is being deployed on the premises of Jnanayogi Shivakumar Sugars Pvt. Ltd. at Hirebevanur village in Indi taluk as the dissident faction within the governing body, led by Basavanabagewadi MLA, Shivanand Patil, has called a farmers' meeting on Friday.

The governing body (Board of Directors) headed by Bijapur MP, Basanagouda R. Patil Yatnal has termed the proposed meeting illegal.

According to sources, it has decided to impose restriction on public entry on Friday to thwart the meeting.

Additional Superintendent of Police, S. Shivanand told The Hindu that over 300 personnel, including those from District Armed Reserve Force and KSRP, were being deployed besides senior officers. Farmers from both factions were expected to gather in large numbers, he added.

However, the dissident group is determined to hold meeting on the factory premises itself. Addressing a hurriedly-convened press meet here on Thursday evening, Vitthal Katakdonda, one of the founder-directors, who has now been removed from the governing body, said Mr. Shivanand Patil would chair the meeting on Friday.

`Rules flouted'

Accusing Mr. Yatnal of running the factory in an autocratic manner, he said the governing body failed to call general body meeting for the last five years. Moreover, the term of governing body was over on May 10 but it continued in office flouting company rules. Share certificates should have been issued to all promoters within six months of launch of the factory but the management failed to do so even after five years.

Those directors including him, who questioned the violation of rules, were removed. Also, the management returned money to those promoters, who demanded share certificates. Questions were being raised on the sale of sugar and byproducts at a much lower price compared to market price.

All these issues would be discussed and future course of action would be decided at the meeting on Friday, he said.