'Illiterate govt': Kejriwal takes aim at Centre over E20 fuel policy, sugar prices
Arvind Kejriwal has criticized the Indian government's ethanol-blended fuel policy, arguing that diverting sugarcane to ethanol production has caused domestic sugar shortages and price hikes. He also alleged that the government is suppressing public dissent regarding the E20 fuel policy.
Why it matters
The debate highlights the tension between national energy security goals and the impact of agricultural policies on consumer food prices.
NEW DELHI: AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday stepped up his criticism of the Centre’s ethanol policy, linking the use of sugarcane for ethanol production to the recent rise in sugar prices and accusing the government of creating a supply problem.In a post on X, Kejriwal said the government had promoted ethanol production from sugarcane to reduce foreign exchange spending on crude oil imports, but was now considering sugar imports because of tighter domestic supplies. “To save the foreign exchange spent on oil imports, they started making ethanol from sugarcane. As a result, there has been a shortage of sugar. Now, they will import sugar using that foreign exchange,” he said.Kejriwal also attacked the government over its handling of the issue, saying, “It's a government entirely run by illiterates.
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