Politics · India Bureau
Congress attacks govt over inflation surge, citing food price spike
The opposition Congress party has launched a sharp attack on the government over rising retail inflation, which touched a 23-month high in September. Food inflation and vegetable prices have emerged as key pressure points in the party's criticism of economic management.
LSN India ·
The Congress party intensified its criticism of the central government's economic stewardship on Wednesday, linking rising inflation to what it characterized as broader governance failures. Senior party leader Jairam Ramesh highlighted retail inflation's climb to its highest level in nearly two years, arguing the surge represents a drain on household finances and savings. According to Ramesh, retail inflation accelerated in September, driven primarily by sharply elevated food costs. Food inflation climbed to 7.74 per cent, while onion prices—a politically sensitive commodity in India—surged 108 per cent year-on-year, reflecting broader agricultural supply pressures. The Congress leader's remarks underscored the opposition's strategy of focusing public attention on inflation's impact on household purchasing power and living standards ahead of upcoming electoral contests. The government has attributed recent price pressures to temporary supply-side factors and seasonal demand patterns, though sustained food inflation remains a concern for policymakers at the Reserve Bank of India.