Mamata calls decontrol of sugar 'another anti-people decision'

KOLKATA: Criticising the partial decontrol of sugar, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today dubbed it as another 'anti-people' measure by the Centre.

"Partial de-control of sugar -- another anti-people decision has been taken by UPA government.... With sugar becoming more and more expensive, the common people will soon forget the taste of sweetness. If sweetness goes, then what remains in life," Banerjee asked in a Facebook post.

"In a series, Government had increased prices of diesel, petrol and LPG cylinders and also imposed restrictions on the use of subsidized cylinders," she said.

"Today's decision is another burden on the commoners and their kitchen," Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress chief, said.

Banerjee said that earlier fertiliser prices had similarly gone up after de-control.

"Sweet is an essential part of all important festivals - be it 'Sewaiyan' for Eid, 'Kheer' or 'Payas' for other festivals," she said.

After the decision taken yesterday, the government had maintained that it would not lead to any rise in retail prices of sugar.