{
  "id": 11443646,
  "title": "Prices rising fastest for those who can least afford it: Raichur MP",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/prices-rising-fastest-for-those-who-can-least-afford-it-raichur-mp",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-02T13:01:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/prices-rising-fastest-for-those-who-can-least-afford-it-raichur-mp/article71537074.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Raichur MP G. Kumar Naik has harshly criticized the Union government's handling of rising prices, particularly focusing on the struggles faced by rural households and small businesses. During a statement ahead of the Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee meeting, Naik emphasized that discussions on monetary policy should not only target English-speaking audiences but also address the everyday concerns of ordinary citizens. He reported that retail inflation surged to 4.82% in August 2026, surpassing the RBI's 4% target for the third month in a row. Furthermore, inflation is expected to rise to 5.9% in the October-December quarter.\n\nInflation has severely impacted various commodities, such as onions, which have reached approximately ₹70 per kg, and eggs, which have increased by nearly 40% compared to a year ago. Naik highlighted that rural areas are facing increased pressure, compounded by drought conditions. The wholesale inflation rates have also risen, with shopkeepers and small businesses paying around 10% higher for bulk goods, compared to 2% in January.\n\nNaik pointed to external factors, such as the conflict in West Asia and poor monsoon season, as contributing to the price pressures. However, he strongly criticized the government's policies, specifically the continued use of sugarcane and maize for ethanol production, arguing that more agricultural produce should be allocated for food and poultry feed. Additionally, he criticized the government's restriction on food exports, which affected farmers and demonstrated inadequate planning.\n\nNevertheless, Naik acknowledged that measures like keeping petrol and diesel prices stable and releasing foodgrain from government reserves provided some relief. However, he emphasized that these actions were insufficient without a comprehensive strategy to tackle food inflation. He also highlighted the lack of proper systems for measuring food losses during production, storage, and transportation, as well as inadequate cold-storage facilities in rural areas and small towns.\n\nIn response to the issues, Naik called for temporary reductions in the use of sugarcane and maize for ethanol production. He stressed the importance of ensuring that cheaper onions, sugar, and grain from government stocks reach village markets and drought-affected regions. Furthermore, he urged the expansion of cold-storage facilities in rural areas and small towns. Naik also urged the government to communicate policy decisions in Indian languages and called for senior leaders to openly discuss price trends, enabling people to make informed decisions about their household expenditure.",
  "summary": "Ahead of the RBI’s October 5–7 MPC meeting, G. Kumar Naik says the discussion on monetary policy should not remain confined to English business media, as rising prices were directly affecting ordinary people.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}