The opposition today closed ranks and attacked the Centre over the sugarcane policy in the Lok Sabha on the opening day of the Winter Session. They charged the Government with adopting a policy which is helpful to the mill owners and not the farmers. RLD, BSP, RJD and SP members joined the BJP over the reported move to table a bill, replacing the ordinance on sugarcane policy in the Lok Sabha immediately after the House assembled for the day. The Left Members also joined them later seeking suspension of the Question Hour to take up the issue. The Speaker first adjourned the House till noon and later for the day as the Opposition refused to relent. <br/>Meanwhile, thousands of sugarcane growers from Western Uttar Pradesh staged a demonstration in the National Capital to protest against this policy. The protest is organised by Ajit Singh's Rashtriya Lok<br/>Dal, Bharatiya Kisan Union of Mahendra Singh Tikait and Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan. Shouting slogans against the Government and seeking higher prices for sugarcane, the farmers holding sugarcane stems marched from Ram Lila Grounds to Jantar Mantar. As the protestors marched on the roads around Parliament, the traffic was thrown out of gear in many areas of the Metro City.<br/>Opposition Members of Parliament launched a strong protest against the Centre's sugarcane policy. Samajwadi Party Cheif, Mulayam Singh Yadav said that the mass movement will be mobilised against this move.<br/>Taking a similar stance, senior RJD leader, Raghuvansh Prasad Singh alleged that Government reduced the prices of sugarcane at a time when its prices are soaring.<br/>DMK leader and the member of the ruling UPA alliance, Mr. T.R.Baalu called for consultation with States before finalising the sugarcane prices in the country.<br/>The Congress leader, Mr. Jagdambika Paul while defending the sugarcane policy said that it does not restrict the State from increasing the prices. <br/>Rajya Sabha Member and the Father of Indian Green Revolution, Dr. M.S. Swaminathan urged the Centre to take all stakeholders on board to decide the prices of sugarcane.<br/>Briefing reporters this evening, senior BJP leader, Mrs. Sushwa Swaraj called for an all party meeting to discuss this issue. She said that the party will raise this issue in both the Houses on Friday. Mrs. Swaraj said that the party will press for suspension of Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha to discuss the issue and bring an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha.<br/>CPIM has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the ordinance on sugarcane prices. Party leader, Mr. Basudeb Acharya alleged that statutory minimum price fixed by the Centre is neither fair nor remunerative.<br/>AIR correspondents Sarita Brara and Vijay Raina report from Parliament that "while thousands of agitating sugar cane growers from Western UP have gathered in capital , the issue rocked the Lok Sabha and no legislative business could be conducted on the opening day of the winter session . The core of the issue is the replacement of the statutory minimum price (SMP) with a fair and remunerative price (FRP ) order which makes it imperative for state governments to bear the financial burden of difference between the FRP and the state advisory price for sugarcane .The order is being seen by state governments and farmers’ associations as being loaded in favour of the mill-owners , which will only have to pay the F&RP. With the opposition appearing to be in an unrelenting mood ,it remains to be seen what strategy the government will adopt to deal with the issue.<br/><br/>