The Chandigarh Congress organized a ‘Sugar Langar’ in the city on Wednesday, responding to rising sugar prices that, they claim, have diminished the sweetness of local festivals. Participants distributed sugar to residents, while the party criticized the ruling BJP-led government for inflation and escalating costs of essential commodities.
Chandigarh Congress president HS Lucky stated that the initiative aimed to assist those affected by price increases while making a political statement regarding the Union government. “They have taken the sweetness out of people’s festivals; this is a small effort by the Congress party to bring that sweetness back,” Lucky remarked.
He asserted that despite promises from the BJP government to lower inflation, essential commodity prices have continued to rise, accompanied by a lack of new job opportunities. “The Modi government came to power promising to curb inflation within 100 days, yet 12 years have passed. New jobs are not being created, and people lack employment. Sources of income are steadily shrinking, while inflation keeps rising,” he added.
Lucky pointed out that the price of sugar has increased from approximately Rs 25-30 per kilogram to Rs 70-75 per kilogram, and he noted similar hikes in the prices of onions, tomatoes, mustard oil, and pulses, affecting household budgets.
The Chandigarh Congress plans to conduct similar distribution drives for other essential items in the upcoming days. “In the coming days, we will organise similar drives for pulses, onions, tomatoes, and mustard oil across the city–in every village, colony, and sector,” Lucky announced.
He characterized the program as both a public outreach initiative and a form of political commentary aimed at highlighting the perceived failures of the central government in managing inflation. “While this aims to help the poor, we also intend to make a political statement–a form of political satire–regarding the Modi government, as it is running away from its responsibilities,” he explained.
This Congress initiative follows remarks by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal who also expressed concerns about rising sugar prices, attributing them to the government’s ethanol-blending policy. Kejriwal claimed that 25 lakh tonnes of sugarcane had been diverted for ethanol production, contributing to the increased sugar prices, and he announced a town hall event to discuss the implications of E20 fuel. He further questioned the government’s ethanol blending approach, noting industry concerns regarding the policy.
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