IndiaPosted at: Sep 21 2026 10:13AM


Food inflation hits poor and middle class, Jairam Ramesh questions Modi government’s silence

New Delhi, Sept 21 (UNI) Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh on Monday criticised the Narendra Modi government over what he described as a sharp and uncontrolled rise in food prices, alleging that escalating costs of essential commodities were placing an increasing burden on poor and middle-class households.
In a post on social media platform X, Ramesh said the prices of spices, pulses, edible oils and onions had risen significantly, making everyday necessities increasingly difficult for ordinary families to afford.
“An uncontrolled rise in food prices in the country has broken the back of the middle class and the poor,” he said, alleging that the prices of essential commodities had reached levels that were making life difficult for the common people. Citing price figures, Ramesh claimed that several spices had recorded increases between 10 per cent and 25 per cent over the past month.
According to the figures shared by him, small cardamom had risen from Rs 4,000 to Rs 4,400 per kg, while large cardamom had increased from Rs 2,400 to Rs 2,800 per kg. Cumin prices, he said, had climbed from Rs 360 to Rs 400 per kg, while mace had risen from Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 per kg.
Highlighting the rising cost of pulses and edible oils, the Congress leader stated that arhar (tur) dal had increased from Rs 100 to Rs 130 per kg, chana dal from Rs 70 to Rs 100 per kg and urad dal from Rs 120 to Rs 140 per kg. Mustard oil, he claimed, had risen from Rs 190 to Rs 210 per litre, while the oil brand Saffola had increased from Rs 240 to Rs 280 per litre.
Ramesh also pointed to the alleged increase in onion prices, saying that the all-India average retail price had risen from Rs 29.50 per kg in June to Rs 53.78 per kg in September, an increase of 82.3 per cent in approximately three and a half months. He contended that rising food costs were placing pulses and other essential commodities beyond the reach of poorer households.
Questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on inflation, Ramesh asked, “But Prime Minister ji is silent on inflation. The country is asking, where have the ‘Achhe Din’ gone, Prime Minister ji? Do they survive only in sermons?”
He added, “People remain hungry, the government remains silent… is this the new India?”
Quoting the popular Hindi film lyric, “Kya hua tera vaada? Woh kasam, woh iraada?” (What happened to your promise? That oath, that resolve?), Ramesh demanded immediate and stringent measures from the Modi government to address rising prices and provide relief to the public.
His remarks add to the Congress’s continuing criticism of the government over inflation, household expenditure and the affordability of essential food items. The price figures cited in his post are claims made by Ramesh and would require verification against official retail price data for the relevant periods.
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Tags: #Food inflation hits poor and middle class# Jairam Ramesh questions Modi government’s silence
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