Congress accuses government of ₹36,000-crore sugar scam

The Congress party has accused the Narendra Modi government of facilitating a ₹36,000-crore sugar scam that benefits hoarders and black-marketeers. During a press conference in New Delhi, Congress General Secretary Randeep Surjewala alleged that the government was aware of a potential sugar shortage as early as April but failed to take corrective action.

Surjewala claimed that retail sugar prices have risen from approximately ₹40–45 per kg to ₹70–75 per kg. With an estimated 12 million tonnes of sugar expected to be consumed between August and November, the party argues that the additional ₹30 per kg cost imposes a ₹36,000-crore burden on consumers during the festive season.

The Congress party also attributed the shortage to the diversion of 32% of sugarcane stocks toward E20 fuel production between November 2025 and July 2026. Furthermore, they cited lower production estimates and reduced opening stocks for the 2025-26 season as evidence of the government's failure to manage the commodity effectively.