‘Stop sugar to alcohol and chocolate firms’

The fight over price rise seems to be getting shriller by the day. The Congress, angry at Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar’s inaction on the issue, has finally decided to approach prime minister Manmohan Singh.In a letter to Singh, the Congress has said it wants a ban on soft drink, chocolate, ice-cream and liquor companies from lifting domestic sugar. This, says the Congress, will push 20% more sugar into the market and will subsequently push down prices from Rs50 to Rs40 per kg.The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has decided to launch a campaign over this. “If hard policy corrections are not undertaken it will push up prices to Rs 60 a kg. Through such hard measures the government can make available approximately 40 lakh metric tonnes of sugar in the open market which will bring some relief to the aam admi. MPCC chief Manikrao Thakre admits, “It is the poor who are affected the most when the price of tea goes up from Rs 2 a cup to Rs 5. And, tea cannot be called a luxury anymore.”The Congress, which is targeting Pawar for not taking stern measures to stabilise sugar prices, say if the current situation continues, sugar prices could cross 75 per kg. In the letter, MPCC spokesperson Kanhaiyalal Gidwani has said, “The centre has to make a change in its sugar control policy restricting companies and bulk consumers from using domestic sugar.” The letter states, “Bulk companies should be given three months to make arrangements for importing sugar for their consumption. If after that large quantities of sugar are lifted from the domestic market, then action must be initiated.” Earlier, former BJP (MP) Kirit Somiaya had said, “I demand a thorough CBI probe into the import and export of sugar. It appears the government is working to protect the interests of exporters and importers and not the people.”