The Congress said on Wednesday that the centre's decision to deliver 10,000 tonnes of sugar to the European Union was taken due to contractual obligations but maintained that an office under the agriculture ministry had made recommendations for the export.

"There are some contractual obligations with the European Union. Only the commerce minister or the agriculture minister can reply about the details...It has been given at the authorisation of Sugar Exim Corporation which is under the agriculture ministry," party spokesman Manish Tewari told reporters here.

Asked about Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar's denial on having information about the export, Tewari highlighted that the notification for the export says that it was being done at the authorisation given by the Sugar Exim Corporation which falls under the ministry.

The DGFT, which comes under the commerce ministry issued the notification for export of 10,000 tonnes of sugar to the European Union two days ago.

Opposition BJP had criticised the move to export sugar at a time when inflation was sky rocketing and prices of sugar in the retail market was on a pea