The Congress on Friday stepped up its attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over rising food prices, with party general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh accusing the government of being insensitive to the financial pressure faced by middle-class and poorer households. Ramesh described Modi as the “pravachan mantri” while questioning whether the Prime Minister was aware of the difficulties families were facing in managing their monthly budgets. His remarks came as official data showed 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 are provisional, according to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

Ramesh shared a media report on X that claimed household kitchen budgets had increased by 20 to 25 per cent over the preceding three months, with the pressure becoming more visible during the festival season. In a post in Hindi, he said inflation was not merely reflected in statistical indicators but was being experienced in household kitchens. He cited the example of a homemaker whose family earns around Rs 35,000 a month and who, according to the report referenced by him, was finding it increasingly difficult to manage kitchen expenses. Ramesh then questioned whether Modi understood how families with limited incomes were coping with rising costs. The Congress leader used the report to argue that the impact of food-price increases was extending beyond headline inflation figures and into routine household spending.

Ramesh also pointed to increases in the prices of several commonly used food items. Citing the media report, he said arhar dal had risen from around Rs 105 to Rs 140-150 per kg, while moong had increased from Rs 95 to Rs 120 per kg. He also cited an increase in rice prices from Rs 42-45 to Rs 53-55 per kg and mustard oil from Rs 165 to Rs 190 per litre. These individual retail prices were presented by Ramesh as examples of the pressures being faced by consumers, rather than as figures from the national Consumer Price Index. His broader argument was that rising prices of staples, cooking essentials and vegetables were making it harder for households to maintain existing spending patterns without cutting back elsewhere.

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Official inflation data does confirm sharp year-on-year increases in several food items during August. According to the government’s CPI release, onion inflation rose to 48.27 per cent in August from 22.54 per cent in July. Ginger recorded inflation of 73.82 per cent, while garlic inflation stood at 43.60 per cent. At the same time, price movements were not uniform across the vegetable basket. Tomato prices declined 31.09 per cent year-on-year in August, while potato prices fell 13.14 per cent. Food inflation, measured through the Consumer Food Price Index, stood at 5.95 per cent nationally, with rural food inflation at 6.13 per cent and urban food inflation at 5.64 per cent.

Ramesh linked these figures to his wider criticism of the government's handling of household economic pressures. He said inflation was affecting multiple parts of the kitchen, including pulses, spices, vegetables and edible oil, and claimed that declining household savings and rising family debt were adding to the strain. The Congress has repeatedly used food prices and household expenses as political issues, with Ramesh also questioning Modi's focus on other subjects during his monthly “Mann Ki Baat” programme. In a separate criticism last month, Ramesh had highlighted the August onion inflation figure and questioned when the Prime Minister would directly address inflation and the financial concerns of ordinary households.

The latest remarks come ahead of the release of India’s September inflation data, which the statistics ministry has scheduled for October 12. The government’s September economic review has meanwhile identified geopolitical tensions, elevated crude oil prices, supply disruptions and volatile energy costs as risks that could add to imported inflation pressures. It also said festive demand and higher input costs could contribute to near-term price pressures, while supply-side and market interventions could help contain temporary shocks. Against this backdrop, the Congress is seeking to keep household costs and food prices at the centre of its criticism of the Modi government. Ramesh's latest remarks focus on the gap between official inflation numbers and the day-to-day experience of families managing food and other essential expenses.

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