New Delhi, Feb 12 (IANS): Attacking the Central government over the LPG price hike and food inflation, the Congress on Wednesday alleged that the Modi government has increased the LPG prices, when the crude prices have fallen, to fill its coffers.

The food inflation in the country is at 7.59 per cent and the price of non-subsidised LPG cylinder has gone up to Rs 858 per cylinder.

Slamming the government over the increase in the LPG prices, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said: "The government has electrocuted the budgets of Indian households."

The Congress leader said with one stroke the government has pocketed Rs 43,562 crore annually from the people.

Surjewala said the government is unable to control the food inflation in the country as onions are still being sold at Rs 74 per kg while when the UPA lost power in 2014 it was being sold at Rs 17 per kg.

The prices of food items such as vegetables, eggs, meat and fish, along with fuel costs, have pushed India's retail inflation during January to 7.59 per cent from December's 7.35 per cent that was at 1.97 per cent in the corresponding period of last year.

According to the National Statistical Office, the consumer food price index remained at an elevated level of 13.63 per cent from minus 2.24 per cent recorded in January 2018.

Similarly, the high fuel prices lifted the inflation rate of 'fuel and light' category to 3.66 per cent