No one dies without sugar, says Pawar’s party

Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar’s party, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP),has come with a funny logic to avert criticism over rising sugar prices, currently ruling around Rs 40-Rs 45 per kg in the market.

The NCP offered a strange recipe to tide over the crisis --consume less of the sweetener as "no one dies due to not eating sugar". “On the other hand, by eating items made from sugar, diabetes increases. So, it is not necessary that everyone consume sugar," the NCP mouthpiece 'Rashtravadi' said coming up with a solution to control sugar prices in an editorial in its latest issue.

The magazine is edited by Dr Sudhir Bhongale, a former journalist. The write-up said the total expenditure on sugar and food items is comparatively less -- around 10% to 12%.

"Why is sugar considered an essential commodity," the editorial asked. "Our total expenditure on sugar and food items is comparatively less, around 10 to 12 per cent. The expenditure is on cosmetics, vehicles, fuel, entertainment, hobbies and luxury items but no one says a word on rising prices of these items," the editorial pointed out.

"If we consider a rise of Rs 10 to 15 per kg in sugar prices, the average monthly spending on sugar for a four-member family goes up by Rs 60 to 90. The increased salaries after Sixth Pay Commission are comparatively manifold. Even minimum wages to EGS workers have increased. So, the fact is that rise in sugar prices does not affect a family's budget much," the article claimed.

"Those with diabetes don't eat sugar but they still live," the editorial said, asking people to "keep in mind the situation and adjust their habits accordingly."

Pawar has been under attack from the opposition, allies and a section of Congress over the rise in prices of food items. Sugar has already touched over Rs42a kg from about Rs22 a kg a year ago. Pawar has recently received flak for publicly predicting rise in the prices of milk and sugar.

The party quickly distanced himself from the remark which would stir a potential controversy. "The remark is his (Pichad) personal view. The NCP has nothing to do with it," state NCP spokesman Gurunath Kulkarni said.

Opposition BJP questioned the kind of remark articulated by the NCP. "BJP would want to know an answer from the government, especially Mr Pawar and his party. What do they mean by making such remarks about people who are already suffering under high prices," BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy said in New Delhi.

- Asian Tribune -