New Delhi: Apart from burning a hole in the common man’s pocket, rising sugar prices in the country sparked off a war of words between Shehzad Poonawalla and his brother Tehseen.
Shehzad resigned from the BJP recently, but maintained that he did so only for financial reasons. He still respects Prime Minister Narendra Modi and supports the BJP, he said.
Tehseen, on the other hand is a political analyst and activist who claimed on Saturday that he has been placed under house arrest for wanting to participate in the protests against ethanol-blending in petrol and sugar price rise at Jantar Mantar.
In a video posted on X, Tehseen is seen offering sugarcane juice to a policeman outside his door.
“The Sugar Scam is the most bitter Scam in INDIA ! Making sons of netas become millionaires while the common citizen pays more for Sugar & due to E20 their vehicles are destroyed!!,” he posted along with the video.
Shehzad hit back in a reply in which he attacked Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.
“Dearest Tehseen, Asking for a friend: Is your pal Rahul Gandhi a beneficiary of “Beta Badhao” yojana? Since you made this about netas children.. Why so selective ?? What merit does Rahul Gandhi have. He is not fit to even be a booth level leader. How he is JANNAYAK,” he posted.
Sugar prices have risen from Rs 48.18 per kg on July 20 to Rs 58.20 per kg on August 21, according to data from the consumer affairs ministry’s price portal. The price surge has prompted the government to step up measures to curb hoarding and allow sugar imports for the first time in nearly a decade to augment domestic availability ahead of the festive season, as reported by Hindustan Times.
On Friday, the government clarified that the surge in prices cannot be attributed to the diversion of sugar for ethanol, pointing instead to lower-than-expected domestic production, higher festive-season demand, and weather-related crop damage.
The share of sugar diverted for ethanol has declined from around 12% of production in 2022-23 to about 9% in 2025-26 as output dropped. Nearly three-fourths of ethanol produced in India now comes from grains, particularly maize, the government stated.
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh slammed the government on the price rise on Saturday, arguing that current inflation has “broken the back” of the common man due to the wrong policies of the Centre. He noted that the recent rise in prices has not only shaken the budget of ordinary households but has also impacted “the plate and daily expenses” of the public.
“From soap to cars, from spices to flour, rice, sugar, and oil, inflation has broken the back of the common man. Due to the Modi government’s wrong policies, common people are being crushed in the mill of inflation, and the middle class’s household budget has completely gone haywire. Incomes are limited, but kitchen expenses keep rising every month. The direct impact of inflation is now falling on the common man’s plate and daily expenses,” Ramesh said.
Ramesh further questioned the silence of the Central government over rising prices, describing the administration as “arrogant” and “indifferent.”
