Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge.
| Photo Credit: Arun Kulkarni
The Congress on Saturday (August 22, 2026) accused the Narendra Modi government of failing to contain the rise in prices of essential commodities, with party president Mallikarjun Kharge questioning whether the diversion of sugarcane and grain for ethanol production under the E20 policy was contributing to rising sugar prices.In a post on X, Mr. Kharge said sugar stocks were at a nine-year low even as prices had risen sharply ahead of the festival season. He asked why India, the world’s largest sugar producer and exporter, had reached a situation where exports had to be halted and one million tonnes of sugar imported duty-free.“Why is the sugar stock in India… at its lowest level in nine years today?” he asked, questioning who was responsible for the rise in prices and whether the E20 policy should now be reviewed.Mr. Kharge said sugar had become nearly 40% more expensive in recent months and questioned the rationale for diverting sugarcane and grain towards ethanol when the country was importing sugar.“What kind of ‘self-reliant India’ is this?” he asked, arguing that the policy had resulted in declining sugar production and stocks while sugar was being imported.Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also attacked the government over inflation, saying the rise in prices was affecting household budgets and not just kitchen essentials. “From soap to cars, from spices to flour, rice, sugar and oil, inflation has broken the back of the common man,” Mr. Ramesh said in a social media post in Hindi.Citing price increases over the past month, he said flour had risen from ₹32 to ₹40 a kg, rice from ₹42 to ₹54, cumin from ₹180 to ₹380 and turmeric from ₹130 to ₹260. Mustard oil, peanut oil and refined oil had also registered sharp increases, he claimed.Mr. Ramesh said the rising cost of everyday goods, including soap, detergent, toothpaste, biscuits, tyres and cars, had made life difficult for ordinary people. “There is no effort to control inflation,” he said, warning that the public would remember the government’s handling of prices and “will not forgive”. Published - August 22, 2026 07:59 pm IST
