Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Bihar Minister Defends Sugar Price Hike With Diabetes Argument
Sugar has become more expensive in Bihar.
A minister said this may not hurt people much because many people are eating less sugar due to diabetes.
Another minister said he is happy when farmers get more money for what they produce.
He also said officials should investigate why sugar prices increased so much.
The price is now above Rs 65 per kilogram.
It used to cost around Rs 48 to Rs 50.
MP Pappu Yadav disagreed with the ministers' explanations.
He said the government should be blamed for the higher prices.
Bihar Minister Shravan Kumar said rising diabetes rates mean people are eating less sugar.
Sugar prices in Bihar have risen to more than Rs 65 per kilogram from about Rs 48–50.
Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha said he feels happy when farmers receive higher prices for their produce.
Sinha said the reason for the sugar price increase should be investigated by the department responsible for sugar production.
Independent MP Pappu Yadav criticized Kumar's diabetes argument and blamed the government for rising costs.
- Who
- Bihar Ministers Shravan Kumar and Vijay Kumar Sinha, and Independent MP Pappu Yadav.
- What
- Ministers defended or discussed a sharp rise in sugar prices, while Yadav criticized their explanations.
- When
- Recently; the articles do not provide a specific date.
- Where
- Bihar.
- Why
- Shravan Kumar cited lower sugar consumption linked to diabetes, while Vijay Kumar Sinha called for an investigation into the price increase.
Ministerial Defense
Political Criticism
Effect on consumers
Ministerial Defense
Shravan Kumar said the price increase would not make much difference because people are eating less sugar amid rising diabetes cases.
Political Criticism
Pappu Yadav rejected this reasoning, arguing that consumers are facing higher costs and deserve a more serious explanation.
Higher farm prices
Ministerial Defense
Vijay Kumar Sinha said he feels happy when the prices of farmers' produce rise.
Political Criticism
Pappu Yadav focused on the impact of rising prices on the public and criticized the government for its response.
Responsibility for the increase
Ministerial Defense
Sinha said the cause of the sugar price rise needs to be investigated and that information would be sought from the minister responsible for sugar production.
Political Criticism
Yadav said the government itself was the biggest problem behind the price pressures.
- Current sugar price
- More than Rs 65 per kilogram in Bihar.
- Earlier sugar price
- About Rs 48 to Rs 50 per kilogram.
- Shravan Kumar's explanation
- He said people are eating less sugar because diabetes cases are rising.
- Vijay Kumar Sinha's view
- He said he feels happy when farmers receive higher prices for their produce.
- Proposed action
- Sinha said the reason for the sugar price increase should be investigated.
- Political criticism
- Pappu Yadav called the diabetes explanation bizarre and said the government was responsible for the broader price problem.