Indore: Madhya Pradesh Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya on Wednesday triggered a political controversy with his remarks that sugar should be "very expensive" and that people above 40 should avoid consuming it.

Vijayvargiya made the comments while responding to criticism from opposition parties over rising sugar prices ahead of the festive season.

The BJP leader said most people no longer preferred sweets and claimed that he himself had stopped consuming them.

"Anyway, 90 per cent of people don't like sweets these days. Let me tell you, I don't eat sweets at all," he said.

Vijayvargiya then said, "I say that (sugar) should become very expensive. (Sugar) should only be available at cheap rates at government fair price shops for children...The elderly should not be given sugar at all."

He further claimed that doctors, particularly those practising Ayurveda, advise people above 40 against consuming sugar.

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"If you are over 40, you can eat jaggery once in a while, but avoid sugar completely," he said.

His remarks drew criticism from Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari, who accused BJP leaders of making "absurd" statements while people struggle with inflation and rising sugar prices.

Patwari said the BJP had come to power promising to bring down inflation but was now insulting and ridiculing poor and middle-class families through such comments.

"The country is watching the BJP leaders. People will give a befitting reply to their laughter in the upcoming elections. Then we will see whether they retain their smiles or shed tears," he said.

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Opposition parties have also been targeting the Centre over increased ethanol blending in petrol, alleging that the policy has contributed to higher sugar prices and increased the financial burden on consumers.

The government has rejected the allegations, maintaining that the country has adequate sugar stocks to meet domestic demand and accusing the industry of raising prices.

Meanwhile, retail sugar prices increased for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, rising by more than Rs 1 per kg amid stronger festive demand, according to government data.

Data from the Department of Consumer Affairs' Price Monitoring Division showed the all-India average retail price of sugar at Rs 65.05 per kg on August 26, compared with Rs 63.97 per kg on Tuesday.

Retail prices have remained elevated despite ex-mill sugar prices declining by nearly 20 per cent following the government's decision to permit imports of 10 lakh tonnes of raw sugar.