Cong, NCP hit out at Centre over sugar imports from Pakistan

The Congress and the NCP today hit out at the Union government, claiming that its policy of allowing the import of sugar from neighbouring Pakistan was leading to a crash in its prices in the domestic market.

The two parties questioned the Centre over the need for such imports when sugar production in the country was in "excess".

National Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar said that there was bound to be "some reaction" if sugar was imported from Pakistan.

He said that several states had seen excess production of sugarcane and have been demanding that sugar be exported.

"There is bound to be some reaction if sugar has been imported from Pakistan. I can understand that liberalisation in import-export policies means that a lot of these things are not in the control of the government. However the Indian government has the right to impose duty and discourage sugar imports," the former Union Agriculture Minister said.

"Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have had excess production of sugarcane and hence sugar production has gone up in the country. Farmers from these states are demanding that sugar be exported," he added.

Speaking to reporters, former state Cooperation Minister and senior Congress leader Harshvardhan Patil said, "A Delhi-based company called Sakuma Exports Limited has exported chocolates to Pakistan and imported some 20 lakh tonnes of sugar from Pakistan. Why is this being done at the cost of our farmers?"