Daijiworld Media Network - Pune
Pune, May 14: Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday sharply criticised the Centre’s decision to ban sugar exports, calling the move “economically disastrous” for Maharashtra’s cooperative sugar sector and demanding its immediate withdrawal.
Addressing a press conference in Pune, Pawar warned that the policy could severely impact sugar mills ahead of the 2026 crushing season and place farmers’ payments at risk.
According to him, the export restriction comes at a time when Maharashtra is witnessing surplus sugar production, limiting mills from accessing international markets and generating the liquidity required to pay the revised Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) to sugarcane farmers.
“The industry was finally seeing a window of liquidity through international markets. By shutting this door, the government is making it impossible for mills to survive and fulfill their legal obligations to the sugarcane growers,” Pawar said.
He also urged the government to intervene in view of crop losses caused by recent unseasonal rains.
Pawar further commented on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent appeal for austerity and fuel conservation amid tensions in West Asia. While acknowledging the importance of fiscal discipline, he said the burden of policy failures should not fall on ordinary citizens.
He pointed out that rising fuel and edible oil prices continue to affect the rural economy and stressed that the Prime Minister’s appeal should be implemented sincerely rather than symbolically.
“The Prime Minister's appeal suggests that the situation is grave. It is being discussed everywhere; therefore, everyone should take note of it,” Pawar remarked.
Referring to ministers reducing their convoys following the Prime Minister’s call, Pawar questioned the need for large motorcades and suggested such measures should become permanent rather than temporary gestures.
“Why are 17 cars needed in a minister's motorcade? Reducing them to 7 or 8 now is just a show. For the last four years, I have had only three cars in my convoy,” he said.
Commenting on Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis travelling to Mantralaya on a motorcycle, Pawar said the public would take such initiatives seriously only if they were continued consistently.
The veteran leader also called for an all-party meeting to discuss the national situation and questioned why fuel conservation measures were not considered earlier.
On the political front, Pawar hinted at possible local-level understandings between the two factions of the NCP ahead of upcoming Zilla Parishad elections to avoid division of “like-minded” votes against the BJP in rural regions.
Reacting to recent remarks by younger political opponents about the decline of senior leaders, Pawar dismissed such comments as “political immaturity” and asserted that Maharashtra’s voters have repeatedly demonstrated political wisdom.
He also addressed the NEET paper leak controversy, saying such incidents occur due to administrative negligence and inadequate safeguards, adding that the future of millions of students had been jeopardised because of lapses in the system.