Sugar is likely to taste bitter during festivals in Madhya Pradesh as traders have announced they will strike work from October 1 by not lifting fresh stocks. This will create scarcity and drive up the prices.

The arm-twisting by traders follows the government’s decision to auction sugar seized during coordinated raids against hoarders across the state.

“If the stocks are not released we will surrender licences,” announced Madhya Pradesh Sugar Vyapari Mahasangh, while criticising the BJP government for bringing in ‘licence raj’ to harass traders.

The state has invoked the Sugar Control Order, seizing thousands of tonnes of the commodity from hoarders either for exceeding the stock limit or for operating without licences. Licence is mandatory for traders dealing in more than 20 quintals of sugar and the stock limit is 2,000 quintals.

The federation has also given a call for boycott of auction asking traders and brokers to keep away in an attempt to put pressure on the administration. The boycott call followed after traders unsuccessfully challenged in courts the administration’s decision to seize the commodity.