Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 21: The Congress on Monday attacked the Narendra Modi government over what it described as rising prices of essential food items, using the popular 1977 Bollywood song Kya Hua Tera Vada to question Prime Minister Narendra Modi's response to inflation.

Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh shared a media report on rising prices of food items, pulses and cooking oils and alleged that the increase was putting pressure on household budgets.

In a post in Hindi, Ramesh claimed that prices of several spices had increased by 10 to 25 per cent over the past month. He cited green cardamom rising from Rs 4,000 to Rs 4,400 per kg, black cardamom from Rs 2,400 to Rs 2,800, cumin from Rs 360 to Rs 400 and mace from Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 per kg.

Ramesh also cited increases in the prices of pulses and edible oils. According to his post, arhar dal rose from Rs 100 to Rs 130 per kg, chana dal from Rs 70 to Rs 100 and urad dal from Rs 120 to Rs 140. He said mustard oil increased from Rs 190 to Rs 210 per litre, while Safola oil rose from Rs 240 to Rs 280.

He further claimed that the all-India average retail price of onions had risen from Rs 29.50 per kg in June to Rs 53.78 per kg in September, representing an 82.3 per cent increase.

The latest official data shows that India's retail inflation rose to 4.82 per cent in August from 4.45 per cent in July, while food inflation increased to 5.95 per cent from 5.52 per cent. The August figures released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation are provisional.

Ramesh alleged that the increase in prices was placing a heavier burden on middle-class and poorer households and accused the Prime Minister of remaining silent on inflation.

Quoting the lyrics of Kya Hua Tera Vada, he asked, “Where have the achche din gone, Prime Minister ji?” and questioned the government's handling of rising prices.

The Congress leader called on the Modi government to take immediate measures to contain inflation and provide relief to consumers.

The Congress has repeatedly raised the issue of price rise and criticised the government's economic policies. The government has rejected such criticism and has pointed to India's economic growth and other economic indicators.