TEXT :
SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU : Sir, on behalf of the workers working in the sugarcane industry and also the sugarcane growers, I would request the Union Government to stop import of sugar so as to save the sugar industry. The hon. Prime Minister has made an announcement to increase the excise duty but increasing the excise duty is not helpful. In India, we already have about 55 lakh tonne of sugar, and this year we are expected to produce about 155 million tonnes of sugar. Sugar required for our own consumption is 140 million tonne. In these circumstances, there is no necessity to import sugar thereby killing our ______________________________________________________________________________

*Not Recorded.

indigenous industry. The farming community, particularly four-and-a-half crore of sugarcane growers are in crisis. I would request the Government to take remedial steps and immediately stop the import of sugar. On behalf of my Party I would like to make this request.

SHRI SHARAD PAWAR : The issue which has been raised by the hon. Member... (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of Opposition is on his legs. Please take your seat.