BJP wants CBI probe into sugar ‘scam’

NEW DELHI: BJP on Wednesday demanded a CBI inquiry into import of sugar by the UPA government at the Centre, as the country, it alleged, had to pay a much higher price for the same sugar which it had sold in the international markets only six months ago at a lower price.

���Last year, the agriculture ministry declared that sugar is available in abundance and hence allowed its exports, knowing fully well that there had been less-than-normal planting of sugarcane and that there will be a shortfall of sugar this year,��� observed BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar, adding, ``As a result, we exported 48 lakh tonnes of sugar at Rs 12 per kg last year. Six months later, we imported 70 lakh tonnes of sugar at Rs 27 per kg. This is the scam which needs to be probed by CBI.

With sugarcane farmers in Uttar Pradesh and elsewhere taking to the streets against the low remunerative prices, and skyrocketing prices of grain upsetting the budgetary calculations of middle class and poor families, BJP, chastened by the never-ending run of electoral defeats across the country, has now decided to highlight the issue in an attempt to tap on the growing popular outrage. It has organised a bandh here on Friday to draw the people���s attention to UPA government���s failure in containing prices.