Kharge questions government over sugar shortage, price rise and ethanol policy
Kharge said sugar stocks are at a nine-year low and prices have risen nearly 40% in three months as imports and ethanol diversion continue.
- On Saturday, August 22, 2026, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge questioned the Narendra Modi government over the sugar crisis, asking why shortages and high prices persist ahead of the festival season.
- Kharge challenged the rationale for diverting sugarcane and grain toward ethanol production under the E20 policy, noting that India now imports 1 million tonnes of sugar duty-free despite being a former major exporter.
- Sugar stocks have reached a nine-year low and prices have risen nearly 40%, with Kharge alleging that the "bitterness" of government policies has "seeped into the sweetness of sugar" before festivals.
- Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh attacked the government over inflation, citing sharp price increases for essentials like flour, rice, and oil that have burdened ordinary households.
- Ramesh warned that the public will remember the government's handling of prices and "will not forgive," as the Opposition continues to question the administration's claims of building a "Self-Reliant India.
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The Economic Times
Times of IndiaKharge questions government over sugar shortage, price rise and ethanol policy
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge questioned the government's sugar policies. He highlighted low sugar stocks and increased prices impacting consumers. Kharge also raised concerns about the country importing sugar while diverting crops. He asked about the government's ethanol policy amid sugar shortages.
Mallikarjun Kharge said that sugar prices have risen by nearly 40% in three months. He questioned who is responsible for this inflation that has hit the public ahead of the festive season.
Kharge targets Centre over sugar shortage, ethanol policy
In a statement, Kharge said the “sweetness of sugar” had been overshadowed by the “bitterness” of the Modi government’s policies and raised three questions over the country’s sugar stocks, rising prices and the diversion of sugarcane and grains for ethanol production.
Read Politics erupts over rising sugar prices; the opposition targets the government, while the government identifies who is to blame. - Gallinews India
Politics erupts over rising sugar prices; the opposition targets the government, while the government identifies who is to blame. Sugar prices in the country have risen sharply over the past few days. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has targeted the Modi government, questioning why sugar stocks in India—a major global producer and exporter—are currently at a nine-year low. Meanwhile, the government has clarified that ethanol production is …
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