Sugar, jaggery prices surge; officials’ meeting on Monday: Lamani

Haveri: Sugar Minister Rudrappa Lamani on Saturday, August 22, said he would convene a meeting of officials on Monday to review the sharp rise in the prices of sugar and jaggery. He said the government was yet to ascertain the exact reasons behind the increase and suspected that some wholesale traders may be creating an artificial shortage.

Speaking in Haveri, Lamani said he had been occupied with the ongoing Assembly session and therefore could not hold a meeting on the issue. “We will hold a meeting with officials on Monday and discuss the reasons for the price rise,” he said.

The minister said there were allegations that wholesale traders were deliberately creating an artificial shortage to push up prices. He said the government had directed officials to inspect warehouses and take action if any attempt to hoard sugar or jaggery was detected.

Lamani, however, said certain aspects concerning sugar prices were under the control of the Union government and the state government had limited powers in the matter.

“We have instructed officials to conduct raids on warehouses because there are allegations of an artificial shortage,” he said.

The minister also hit out at the BJP over disruptions in the Assembly. He alleged that BJP members were preventing the House from functioning by entering the well and staging protests.

Lamani said discussions on issues such as drought should be allowed in the Assembly so that solutions could be found. “There is a solution to every problem. We should discuss the issues and find a way forward, but the Opposition is not allowing the House to function,” he said.

He questioned whether the BJP considered the interests of an individual more important than those of the people of the state.

The minister also defended the ruling party’s decision to stage a protest in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue on Friday. He said the Congress wanted the people to know the facts surrounding issues being raised in the Assembly.

“We are in the ruling party, but the people of the state should know the reality,” he said.

Lamani also accused the BJP of having several leaders facing criminal allegations and said there had been scandals during previous governments as well. He said issues should be discussed in the Assembly instead of preventing legislative proceedings.

Referring to allegations involving former minister B. Nagendra, Lamani said the matter should be discussed in the House to establish the facts. He said those who committed an alleged wrongdoing and those who subsequently became involved in the matter should not be treated as the same.

On the incident in which a man was accused of urinating inside a temple in Shiggaon town, Lamani said the incident was wrong and should not have occurred. However, he said such an incident involving an individual could not by itself be described as a breakdown of law and order.

“If someone consumes alcohol and commits such an act, it does not mean that the entire law and order situation has collapsed. It is wrong and such incidents should not happen,” he said.

Lamani said the issue had been discussed with senior police officials and appropriate action would be taken against those responsible.

Responding to allegations that a local MLA had encouraged the incident, the minister questioned whether anyone would deliberately encourage such an act.

He said those responsible for the offence should face legal action, but shutting down an entire town or causing inconvenience to the public was not an appropriate response.

“Those who have committed the mistake will face action. But calling for a town bandh and causing inconvenience to people is not right,” Lamani said.

The minister’s comments came amid concerns over rising sugar and jaggery prices, political confrontation in the Assembly and the controversy surrounding the Shiggaon temple incident. He said the government would examine the price situation and take necessary action based on the findings of the officials’ meeting on Monday.