Congress Blames Modi Government as Food Inflation Ravages Indian Household Budgets

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday accused the BJP administration of deflecting accountability for inflation through distraction tactics while dismissing concerns raised by the opposition and the public.

Highlighting the impact on household finances during the festival season, Kharge cited stark price increases across staple food items. Onion prices have surged by up to 59 percent year-on-year, reaching Rs 50-60 per kilogram in many urban areas, while sugar has climbed to Rs 60-70 per kg, exceeding Rs 72 in some locations. Mustard oil prices have crossed the Rs 200 per litre mark. Overall food inflation stands at 5.52 percent, with wholesale inflation at 9.78 percent.

The Congress leader characterized the situation as a systematic erosion of purchasing power over the BJP's 12-year tenure, stating that volatile commodity prices continuously strain household budgets across different seasons. "The reality of 'achche din' is that sometimes lentils, sometimes vegetables, sometimes oil, sometimes sugar keep wrecking the common person's budget," Kharge said, referring to the BJP's campaign promise of "good days."

The criticism reflects broader opposition concerns about inflation's impact on India's middle and lower-income households, with food prices emerging as a persistent political flashpoint ahead of electoral cycles.