Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 12: The Congress on Thursday targeted the Narendra Modi government over rising prices of essential commodities, saying people wanted effective measures to control inflation rather than repeated government claims and promises.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged that prices of milk, rice, flour, pulses, cooking oil, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, sugar, ghee and other daily necessities had been rising sharply. He also pointed out that Amul and Mother Dairy had once again increased milk prices.
"There was a promise of good days; every day brought a new blow from rising prices. The policies of the ruthless Modi government have repeatedly hit the pockets of the poor and the middle class," Ramesh said in a post on X.
Taking a swipe at the government, he said the burden of inflation was being borne largely by the country's poor and middle-class families.
"In the 'Modani government', which came to power by seeking votes against rising prices, the math of inflation is such that only the country's middle and poor classes have to bear it all. Rising prices every day, from the kitchen to FMCG products, have thrown every household's budget into disarray," he said.
"Prime Minister, you once said — 'sab changa si' (everything is fine), now it is — 'sab mehnga si' (everything is expensive!)," he added.
Ramesh also claimed that major brands, including Hindustan Unilever, had increased the prices of detergents and home-care products by up to 11 per cent since Diwali. He cited products such as Surf Excel, Rin, Wheel and Moti Gulab soap, saying the price increases were making everyday essentials increasingly unaffordable for ordinary households.
Questioning the government's claims about higher domestic sugar production and available stocks, Ramesh said the public was not receiving the expected relief. He referred to claims of a fourfold increase in sugar production and the availability of 3.6 million tonnes of old stocks, and also raised concerns over the prices of pulses.
He further questioned whether the E20 ethanol-blended petrol programme was adding to the burden on consumers through higher prices and alleged concerns over fuel quality.
Asking how long households would have to bear the rising cost of living, Ramesh accused the government of relying on claims instead of addressing people's concerns.
"The people of this country do not want government claims and policy promises; our demand is that inflation be effectively reined in," he said.