Kharge questions government over sugar shortage, price rise and ethanol policy

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has questioned the government over what he described as a worsening sugar situation in India ahead of the festival season.

In a post on X, Kharge alleged that the “bitterness” of the government's policies had “seeped into the sweetness of sugar” before the festivals.

Kharge raised three questions for the government. First, he asked why sugar stocks in India, which he described as the world's largest sugar producer and exporter, are at their lowest level in nine years. He also questioned how the country reached a situation where sugar exports were halted and one million tonnes of sugar had to be imported duty-free.


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Second, Kharge said sugar had become nearly 40% more expensive in three months. He questioned who was responsible for the price increase and the burden it was placing on the public just before the festival season.

Third, Kharge questioned the government's ethanol policy. He asked why the diversion of sugarcane and grain towards ethanol production for E20 blending was not being reviewed when, according to him, the country was facing a sugar shortage and importing sugar from abroad.

Kharge also questioned the government's claims of building a “Self-Reliant India”.

“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!” he said in his post.