Hundreds of Punjab Congress workers staged a protest in Chandigarh on Wednesday, 26 August against the sharp rise in sugar prices across the country, holding the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government responsible for the crisis. The demonstration was led by Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring.

The Symbolic Protest

In a pointed act of symbolism, protesters served tea without sugar, sending the message that the commodity had become unaffordable for ordinary households. The demonstration drew hundreds of party workers and drew attention to what the Congress termed a failure of the Centre's food and agricultural policies.

Key Numbers Behind the Outrage

Citing data, Warring said retail and wholesale sugar prices had risen by approximately 40% compared to the corresponding period last year, with increases reaching as high as 50% in some states. Sugar prices have reportedly crossed ₹65 per kg in eight states. Over the past three months alone, he said, prices had climbed from ₹48 to ₹67 per kg, while jaggery prices had moved from ₹50 to ₹65 per kg.

What the Congress Blames

Warring attributed the price surge to what he described as contradictory and flawed government policies on sugar exports and ethanol production. 'First exports, then diversion for ethanol and now imports to control inflation,' he said, adding, 'what kind of policy is this?' He questioned why repeated government intervention was necessary to stabilise prices if the Centre's economic and agricultural policies were working as intended.

The Ethanol Blending Question

The Congress leader also linked rising food prices to the Union government's E20 ethanol-blending policy, alleging it was squeezing both household budgets and transport costs. He recalled that Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had in 2018 projected that ethanol blending would deliver significant relief in petrol and diesel prices — relief that, Warring argued, consumers have yet to see. He asked why essentials including flour, pulses, cooking oil, sugar, jaggery, and onions were all becoming more expensive while petrol prices had not fallen despite the policy's stated savings.

Broader Context

The protest reflects growing political pressure over food inflation, which has remained a persistent concern for urban and rural consumers alike. This comes amid a period of elevated retail prices for multiple food commodities, with the Centre having already moved to restrict sugar exports and push for imports to stabilise domestic supply. Whether those interventions will translate into meaningful price relief at the retail level remains to be seen.