NEW DELHI: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday attacked the Centre over rising sugar prices and low sugar stocks, alleging that the “bitterness of the Modi government’s policies has seeped into the sweetness of sugar.”
In a post on X, Kharge posed three direct questions to the PM Modi government and questioned its ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ claim.
“Before the festivals, the bitterness of the Modi government’s policies has seeped into the sweetness of sugar. Three direct questions to the Modi government: 1. Why is the sugar stock in India, the world’s largest sugar producer and exporter, at its lowest level in 9 years today? How did we reach the point of halting exports and importing 1 million tons of sugar duty-free? 2. Sugar has become nearly 40% more expensive in three months who is responsible for this price hike burdening the public right before the festivals? 3. When there is a shortage of sugar in the country, and the government is importing sugar from abroad, why isn’t the policy of diverting sugarcane and grain to produce Ethanol for E20 being reviewed? What kind of ‘Self-Reliant India’ is this?,” Kharge wrote.
Targeting the Centre’s ethanol blending policy, the Congress chief added, “First, sugar production declined, then stocks reached their lowest level in 9 years, now we’re importing sugar from abroad and on the other hand, we’re throwing sugarcane into Ethanol to blend with petrol!.”
