Amritsar, August 23, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson and Amritsar South MLA Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar on Sunday criticised the Central Government over the alleged rise in sugar and other essential commodity prices, attributing the situation to what he described as flawed policies and the diversion of sugarcane towards ethanol production.
Nijjar claimed that the price of sugar had risen from around Rs 45 to more than Rs 70 per kg in just 18 days, while onion prices had doubled from Rs 30 to Rs 60 per kg over the past month. He said the sharp increase in the prices of essential commodities was putting additional pressure on household budgets, particularly those of middle-class and economically weaker families.
The AAP leader said the Centre introduced ethanol blending in petrol to reduce dependence on imported crude oil and save foreign exchange. However, he argued that the government must also assess the impact of diverting sugarcane towards ethanol production on domestic sugar availability.
“If a larger share of sugarcane is diverted for ethanol production, it can put pressure on sugar production and market availability,” Nijjar said, adding that the impact of higher ethanol blending on vehicles was a separate issue that also required consideration.
He urged the Central Government to take immediate steps to contain the prices of sugar and other essential commodities and provide relief to consumers.
Nijjar said the Centre needed to strike a balance between its ethanol policy and ensuring adequate supplies of essential food items. He alleged that the Modi Government had pushed people into difficult circumstances despite its earlier promise of “Achhe Din”.
The MLA said persistent inflation was making it increasingly difficult for ordinary families to manage their household expenses and called for concrete measures to ease the burden of rising prices.
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