Congress Criticizes PM Over Rising Food Prices

The Congress party has criticised the Narendra Modi government over rising prices of essential food items, using the popular Bollywood song “Kya Hua Tera Wada” to question the government’s handling of inflation. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said increasing prices were putting additional pressure on household budgets.

Ramesh pointed to increases in the prices of several everyday products, including spices, cooking oil and other kitchen essentials. He argued that such increases are making it more difficult for families, particularly those with limited incomes, to manage their monthly expenses.

He also highlighted the rise in onion prices. Government price-monitoring data showed the average retail price of onions increasing from ₹29.50 per kg on June 1 to ₹53.78 per kg by September 17, an increase of more than 82 per cent.

The wider official inflation data also shows that food prices have been under pressure. According to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, India’s food inflation rose to 5.95 per cent in August 2026, while overall retail inflation increased to 4.82 per cent.

Ramesh used the price increases to question the government’s response to the cost-of-living pressures faced by households. He asked why Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not addressed the issue more directly and referred to the government’s earlier promise of “good days”.

The Congress leader ended his criticism with a reference to the famous song “Kya Hua Tera Wada”, using its title to question whether the promises made to the public had been fulfilled. His remarks form part of the Congress’s continuing criticism of the government’s economic policies.

The rise in food prices has also become a wider economic concern. Recent official data showed particularly sharp year-on-year increases in items such as onions, garlic and ginger in August. At the same time, prices of some other vegetables, including tomatoes and potatoes, declined.

The government and economic officials have offered a different assessment of the situation. Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran said food inflation, which was around 6 per cent in August, was not expected to remain at the same level throughout the year and described the situation as manageable, while pointing to expectations of positive crop production.

The debate over inflation is therefore continuing between the government and the Opposition. While Congress is focusing on the impact of higher food prices on household budgets, official data shows that food inflation has increased in recent months, even as authorities expect some pressure to ease later in the year.

With essential food items becoming an important public issue, prices of vegetables, cooking oils, pulses and other household products are likely to remain a key part of the economic debate in the coming months.