Import from neighbouring country in spite of glut creates bitterness in state
Mumbai: State politics on Monday witnessed a major controversy over the import of sugar from Pakistan.
Leaders from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) held protests on the day against the move, with NCP leaders storming into godowns and tearing sugar bags packed there. Opposition leaders warned government of consequences against selling this sugar in open market.
The news of sugar from Pakistan reached in godowns near Mumbai shocked the state. This news comes on the days when excessive sugar production in Maharashtra has fallen the price of the sugar in domestic market. Pakistani sugar is comparatively '1 cheaper than Maharashtra’s sugar. So, almost 30 thousand quintal sugar in domestic market could have hurt the interests of sugar mills and farmers badly.
Nationalist Congress Party’s leader Jitendra Awhad got the winds of Pakistan’s sugar stocked in Navi Mumbai’s godown area. He along with NCP Thane president Anand Pranajape and other party members reached the spot of. He stormed into it and found sugar imported from Pakistan there.
“Everyday Modi talks against Pakistan from stage. But when comes to the governance help the country as much as possible. Sugarcane growing farmers in India are in deep trouble. Still his government is allowing to sale Pakistani sugar here. But we just want to tell the government that if this continue then we will burn down the godowns which will keep sugar from Pakistan,” threatened Mr Awhad. He also asked people not to buy Pakistani sugar from their kirana traders.
MNS’s Navi Mumbai chief Gajanan Kale also stormed into the godowns with his workers.
Meanwhile, opposition leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil demands ban on selling Pakistani sugar in India. “Who brought this sugar from Pakistan? Is this trader close to the government that they allow him to do so? Government must clarify its position and ban the sale in India,” said Mr Patil.
