Sugar should be expensive, people above 40 should avoid it: Vijayvargiya

Amid criticism by opposition parties over rising prices of sugar ahead of festivals, Madhya Pradesh minister Kailash Vijayvargiya on Wednesday said it should in fact become very expensive, and added that people above 40 years of age should completely avoid its consumption.

Ninety per cent of the people do not like sweets these days, he said, adding that he himself does not eat such items.

Talking to reporters here, the BJP leader claimed that the prices of sugar were steadily falling.

"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.

In a lighter vein, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister 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 said that doctors, especially Ayurvedic ones, do not consider it a good idea for people over 40 year of age to consume sugar.

"If you a