The Congress on Friday (October 2, 2026) accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being insensitive to the burden of rising food prices on households, with party’s communication chief Jairam Ramesh describing him as the pravachan mantri (sermonising minister).
Mr. 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”.
“Inflation isn’t just rising in statistics; its pain is being felt in the kitchens of every middle-class and poor household,” he said in a post in Hindi, alleging that kitchen budget had risen by up to 25% in three months and that too during the festival season.
Citing the experience of a homemaker with a monthly income of ₹35,000, he asked, “Does Modi ji realise how all these families must be managing their household budgets in this era of inflation?”
Mr. Ramesh cited increases in the prices of several food items, saying arhar dal had risen from ₹105 to ₹140-150 a kg, moong from ₹95 to ₹120, rice from ₹42-45 to ₹53-55, and mustard oil from ₹165 to ₹190 a litre.
He also cited government data to say food inflation stood at 5.95% in August, while onion, ginger and garlic prices had risen by 48.27%, 73.82% and 43.60%, respectively.
“Lentils, spices, vegetables, oil... inflation is hitting everywhere,” Mr. Ramesh said, adding that declining household savings and rising debt were adding to the pressure on families.
“For the government, these may be just numbers, but for the public, it’s a household budget unravelling every month,” Mr. Ramesh said, adding, “When will the people of the country get relief from this back-breaking inflation? The insensitivity of the pravachan mantri (sermonising minister) knows no bounds”.
The Congress has been flagging rising prices and accusing the government of pursuing “anti-people” policies.
The government, however, has dismissed the Opposition’s claims and pointed to the strength of the economy, including the latest GDP numbers.
