Khaira flays Modi govt over sugar import duty hike
Tuesday, 26/08/2014
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140826/punjab.htm#23
Chandigarh : Former Punjab Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira has flayed the Modi government for increasing import duty on sugar from 15 to 25 per cent. He termed it a "mischievous step to repay sugar mills and big corporate houses" for having "funded" the BJP election campaign for the Lok Sabha.
"This step is clearly aimed at helping the powerful sugar lobby of Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA)," he said in a statement issued here today.
"Corporate houses headed by Ambani, Adani, Birlas and other sugar barons funded the BJP election campaign by providing around Rs 15,000-20,000 crore. The decision to hike import duty by 10 per cent has brought to the fore the hidden agenda of Modi to allow maximum profits to around 1,100 sugar mills of the country owned by the powerful business-political class. This step will discourage import of cheap sugar from countries like China, Brazil etc. so that the sugar lobby can benefit at the cost of the common man. This step is bound to increase the sugar prices by Rs 3 to Rs 5 per kg," he said.
"The BJP rode to power on the promise of curbing inflation. It often criticised the UPA government for rising prices, but this step of the Modi-led government is bound to add to inflation," he said.
The Modi government, Khaira alleged, had also failed to issue guidelines to sugar mill owners to clear around Rs 9,000-crore arrears payable to cane growers before hiking the import duty.
