Punjab Congress protests rising sugar prices, Warring blames Modi Govt’s policies
Party workers serve sugar-free tea in symbolic protest against rising prices; Punjab Congress chief blames Centre’s policies
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh,August 26, 2026: Hundreds of Punjab Congress workers on Wednesday staged a protest against the rising prices of sugar and other essential commodities, blaming the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central Government’s policies for the increase.
The protest was led by Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, who said rising inflation was making it increasingly difficult for ordinary families to manage their household expenses.
In a symbolic gesture, Congress workers served tea without sugar to highlight what they described as the growing unaffordability of the essential commodity.
Addressing the protesters, Warring alleged that the policies of the Narendra Modi government had contributed to the increase in prices of essential food items, putting additional pressure on household budgets.
Quoting price data, Warring claimed that retail and wholesale sugar prices had increased by around 40 per cent compared with the corresponding period last year, with the rise touching nearly 50 per cent in some states. He said sugar prices had crossed Rs 65 per kg in eight states.
He attributed the increase to what he termed the government’s inconsistent policies on sugar exports and ethanol production. “First exports, then diversion for ethanol and now imports to control inflation. What kind of policy is this?” Warring asked.
He claimed that sugar prices had risen from around Rs 48 to Rs 67 per kg over the past three months, while jaggery prices had increased from Rs 50 to Rs 65 per kg.
Warring questioned the need for repeated government interventions to control the prices of essential commodities if the Centre’s economic and agricultural policies were working effectively.
The Punjab Congress chief also linked the issue of rising prices to the government’s E20 ethanol-blending policy, alleging that the policy was adding to the financial burden on households as well as transportation costs.
He questioned why petrol prices had not declined despite claims that greater ethanol blending would generate savings for consumers.
Referring to statements made by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in 2018 regarding the potential of ethanol blending to reduce fuel prices, Warring asked why consumers were still paying high prices for petrol.
He also questioned the rising prices of flour, pulses, cooking oil, sugar, jaggery, onions and other essential commodities, while petrol prices had not fallen despite the expansion of ethanol blending.
Senior Congress leaders, including AICC secretary Ravinder Dalvi, former minister Balbir Singh Sidhu, Hardayal Kambhoj, Kuljeet Singh Nagra, Gursharan Randhawa, Naresh Duggal, Ashwani Sharma, Ajay Mangupur, Surinder Singh, Jagdev Gaga, Kamal Kishore, Nishat Akhtar, Baljit Kaur and Gurpreet Lucky Pakho, were among those present at the protest.