Release more sugar and take action on onion prices: Congress leader

Mumbai, Aug 21 (UNI) Congress leader and former MLC Kanhaiyalal Gidwani today demanded that Central Government should release more sugar for the state in the backdrop of various festivals.

Talking to reporters, Mr Gidwani said, ''Already there is a bumper sugar production which has reached to 91 lakh tonne this year and next year it will reach 100 lakh tonne.'' ''In this situation, the Government must release two lakh tonne for the month of September and from October to December it should release 15 lakh tonne which will eventually help in reducing the sugar prices in the market,'' Mr Gidwani added.

He said that the whole country's sugar consumption is 190 lakh tonne and it has the capacity to store 200 lakh tonne.

Speaking about the price rise of onion, whose prices have doubled per kg from Rs 8 to Rs 20, Mr Gidwani said, ''The Government should take action against the hoarders.'' ''The price rise is due to hoardings and the State Government has convened a meeting on this issue on August 23,'' he added.

UNI