Cong targets Centre over rising commodity prices, questions E20 policy amid sugar price surge

The Congress on Saturday accused the Modi government of failing to take adequate steps to control rising prices of essential commodities, with party president Mallikarjun Kharge questioning whether the diversion of sugarcane for ethanol production under the E20 blending policy was contributing to higher sugar prices.

Kharge raised the issue of rising sugar prices ahead of the festival season and asked the government why the country’s sugar stocks had fallen to their lowest level in nine years.

“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 one million tons of sugar duty-free?” he asked in a post on X.

Kharge claimed sugar prices had risen by nearly 40 per cent in three months and questioned who would bear the burden of the increase ahead of the festivals.

He also asked whether the government should review its policy of diverting sugarcane and grain towards ethanol production for E20 petrol blending.

“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?” he asked.

Kharge also questioned what he called the contradiction between sugar imports and the government’s emphasis on self-reliance.

Congress flags wider price rise

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also accused the government of failing to control inflation, claiming that rising prices of food and everyday consumer goods were putting pressure on household budgets.

He cited increases in the prices of several commodities over the past month, claiming flour had risen from Rs. 32 to Rs. 40 per kg, rice from Rs. 42 to Rs. 54, cumin from Rs. 180 to Rs. 380, turmeric from Rs. 130 to Rs. 260 and mustard oil from Rs. 165 to Rs. 200 per kg.

He also claimed peanut oil had risen from Rs. 170 to Rs. 230 per kg and refined oil from Rs. 130 to Rs. 190.

Ramesh said the increase was not limited to food items, alleging that prices of products ranging from soap, detergent, toothpaste and biscuits to tyres and cars had also risen.

“Due to the Modi government's wrong policies, the common people are being crushed due to rising inflation, and the middle class's household budget has completely gone haywire,” he said in a post in Hindi.

Ramesh accused the government of taking no effective measures to contain inflation and said voters would hold it accountable.

“Modi ji, remember that this public knows everything, and it won't forgive,” he said.

The claims about commodity price increases and their causes were made by the Congress leaders and were not independently established in the statement.