Reacting to the sugar price rise, the government warned of strict action against sugar mills and traders if the stock didn’t reach the market bringing prices down and said it would even consider importing white sugar. Warning that the government would come down heavily on ‘‘speculators and defaulters’’, Food and Civil and Public Distribution Minister Sharad Pawar said, ‘‘The government is watching the unusual sugar price rise in the country, there is no need for it.’’ He added that there is no sugar shortage in the country. ‘‘There is a speculation that sugar mills after giving the release order, they delay.all this the government is taking serious note of,’’ he said at a press meet.
