'Yogiji, Can You Control Cholesterol Too, By Stopping Oil Seed Farming': Twitter Reacts to UP CM's Sugarcane Gaffe

NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is in the news currently, for mixing health and economic advice in a statement directed at the state’s farmers. “Farmers should try to focus on growing other crops like vegetables rather than just growing sugarcane. Excessive production of sugar also leads to more consumption which, in turn, causes diabetes. You (farmers) are growing too much sugarcane today,” Adityanath said on Tuesday, addressing a gathering in Baghpat.

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While the advice to diversify crop and move away from the reliance on sugarcane – especially in Bhaghpat which is known for its bumper sugarcane produce – is valuable advice, it’s the health advisory attached to it that’s drawing attention. How can growing sugarcane possibly have anything to do with diabetes?

The UP chief minister could do with a biology class, or even an economics class as he seems to have muddled up causality as a concept. Of course, Twitterverse was quick to point out the absurdity of the statement.