Sugar Package: EC seeks clarification from Centre

New Delhi, Mar 30 (UNI) The Election Commission today asked the Centre to clarify the circumstances under which Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar announced a sugar package without obtaining its clearance.

The EC directed the Centre to send its reply by 1700 hrs tomorrow.

On March 27, Mr Pawar had announced a Rs 850-crore relief package for sugar mills including export subsidies even before clearance from the EC in view of the Uttar Pradesh polls.

The decision was taken at the meeting of Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on March 24. The government had approached the EC for clearance to announce the package in view of the model code of conduct for the polls in UP, the country's largest producer of sugar.

However, Mr Pawar had made the announcement in Pune without the EC's nod.

UNI