New Delhi, Nov 18 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday said it will protest the new sugarcane pricing policy in the winter session of parliament beginning Thursday.
Claiming that “wrong policies” of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) were behind the woes of cane farmers, BJP spokesperson Prakash Javdekar said the party will move an adjournment motion Thursday.

“The party will bring an adjournment motion tomorrow (Thursday) in parliament,” Javdekar said.

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar last month managed to secure cabinet approval for an ordinance on the new sugarcane pricing policy.

The ordinance is expected to discourage states like Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu from declaring a State Advisory Price (SAP) for sugarcane as the new order requires state governments to pay the difference over and above the sugarcane price announced by the central government.

Leading companies like Bajaj Hindusthan and Balrampur Chini, among others, who pay the SAP, stand to gain from the consequent level-playing field with companies that operate in states of Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana and Tamil Nadu are five states which declare an SAP. This is different from the SMP which is declared by the central government. Other major sugarcane producing states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar follow the central SMP.

An ordinance is valid for a maximum of six months. It has to be passed in both houses of parliament to become an act, failing which, the ordinance will lapse.