Congress targets PM Modi over ‘insensitivity’ with regard rising prices and its squeeze on household budgets
Describing him as the pravachan mantri, Jairam Ramesh shared a media report on X which said household kitchen budgets had increased by 20% to 25% over the past three months and asked when people would get relief from “back-breaking inflation”
On Friday, October 2, 2026, the Congress party accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being insensitive to the financial strain faced by households due to rising food prices. Jairam Ramesh, the party's communication chief, described Modi as the "pravachan mantri" (sermonising minister) and cited a media report stating that household kitchen budgets had increased by 20% to 25% over the past three months.
The party alleged that inflation was not just a statistical number but a painful reality for middle-class and poor families, particularly during the festival season. Ramesh cited the example of a homemaker earning ₹35,000 a month, asking Modi to understand the struggles of families managing their budgets amid inflation. He provided data showing the price increases of several food items, including arhar dal, moong dal, rice, and mustard oil.
Government data indicated a food inflation rate of 5.95% in August, while prices of onion, ginger, and garlic had surged by 48.27%, 73.82%, and 43.60%, respectively. Ramesh emphasized that inflation was affecting various aspects of household expenditure, from lentils and spices to vegetables and cooking oil, and criticized the government's approach as "anti-people."
While the Congress party has been highlighting rising prices and accusing the government of pursuing policies detrimental to the public, the government has dismissed these claims and pointed to the strength of the economy, including recent GDP numbers.
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