1. The UPA government must enquire into the deliberate delay in release of sugar by various sugar mills in the country, which is causing the price rise in the market. This delay in release of sugar creates artificial shortages resulting in escalation in prices. Surprisingly the govt. release from buffer stock does not specify monthly release of the quantity but gives the time frame of 6 months, which is also adding to the artificial shortages. Even the October – December 2008 release from buffer stock of 6 lakh MT is also not specified month-wise.

In absence of specific monthly release the hoarders and stockiest will have field day in the coming festive season. BJP demands immediate release and specify of adequate quantity of sugar for coming festive season.

2. BJP demands immediate package for distressed weavers, who are on the verge of total collapse and are committing suicide. More than 300 weavers have committed suicide in Andhra Pradesh alone. Karim Nagar district of Andhra Pradesh is now proving to be the grave yard for weavers. This is the result of total neglect by UPA government of handloom and power loom sector in the post WTO open trading. The threat to weavers doesn't confine to Andhra Pradesh alone but weavers from Bhiwandi, Malegaon in Maharashtra and all over the country are facing such crunch.

Post WTO scenario is impacting the handloom and power loom sector adversely. Big world players are engaged in competitive pricing because of heavy subsidy and business of volumes. The handloom weavers have become labourers and are getting meager wages because of high input cost and downward market prices in the garments sector. The government has abandoned the Janata Scheme for weavers where they were getting good price for their produce and customers were getting cheaper product because of right mix of subsidy. India is the only country having a unique model of co-existence of hand loom, power loom and mill sectors. The need of the hour is to protect millions of weavers, who are not getting their due because of capital crunch. The sector can be revived only if investment comes in right quantum. NABARD is the only agency, which invest in this sector. Ironically, the market potential for handloom sector is in the region of Rs. 30,000 crores to Rs. 50,000 crores per annum. But unfortunately NABARD has a budget of only Rs. 75 crores annually for modernisation. UPA has not done anything to provide protection to handloom sector by enacting Textile Labeling Act.

BJP demands immediate decision on Textile Labeling Act, funding of Rs. 1,000 crore for modernisation and special subsidy for weavers to bring back the dilapidated sector to potential vibrancy.