Arvind Kejriwal addresses as he participates in a Sunderkand Path at Japanese Park, in New Delhi. File
| Photo Credit: ANI
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday (August 20, 2026) attacked the Central Government for the sharp rise in sugar prices across the country. AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal claimed that diverting sugarcane towards ethanol production reduced sugar output, pushing sugar prices up by 20 per kg in just 17 days.
In a video message, Mr. Kejriwal said, “It seems as if the Modi government is made up of completely uneducated people. They do not even know what decisions they are taking and what their consequences will be. They diverted sugarcane cultivation towards ethanol production and started blending ethanol with petrol.”
Arvind Kejriwal claimed that the BJP had said this would save petrol and foreign exchange, which we spend on importing oil from other countries.
“By diverting sugarcane towards ethanol production, the country has faced a severe shortage of sugarcane and sugar. Due to the shortage of sugar, its price has increased by ₹20 per kilogram in the last 17 days. Sugar that was ₹46 per kilogram 17 days ago is now ₹65 per kilogram,” Mr. Kejriwal said.
The AAP leader said that the country used to export sugar, but now it is planning to import it.
“Ethanol was produced to save foreign exchange spent on oil, and now we will spend that same foreign exchange importing sugar. On one hand, people’s vehicles are being damaged and their mileage is falling because of ethanol-blended petrol, while on the other, people are now having to buy expensive sugar,” he said
Published – August 21, 2026 10:29 am IST
