New Delhi (Agency): In the face of skyrocketing inflation rates, India’s opposition parties, led by the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), are ramping up their criticism of the BJP-led NDA government. The Consumer Price Index (CPI), a key indicator of retail inflation, surged to 7.44% in July, primarily driven by an 11.51% jump in food prices. Amidst this, the opposition is questioning the high cost of essential commodities like petrol, diesel, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been particularly vocal, drawing attention to the hardships of the common people. On August 1, he visited Azadpur Mandi, Asia’s largest wholesale market for fruits and vegetables, in Delhi. A video showing a struggling vegetable vendor moved the nation, prompting Gandhi to invite the vendor to his home for lunch. After his visit, he criticized the government for ignoring the plight of the poor who are feeling the brunt of rising inflation.
Manickam Tagore, a Congress leader, shared his concerns with the media. “The prices of diesel and petrol have already broken the back of the middle class and poor people,” he stated. Tagore pointed out that these fuel prices have been steadily rising for several years, making essential commodities even more expensive. The price of LPG cylinders, for instance, has soared from around Rs 400 to over Rs 1,000.
Tagore accused the government of being indifferent to the voice of the common people. He suggested that reducing fuel prices to 2014 levels would be the only way to make essential items more affordable.
The rising inflation has not only caught the attention of Congress but also other opposition parties including the Samajwadi Party, NCP, Shiv Sena, Trinamool Congress, and Rashtriya Janata Dal. They have opened a front against the government, challenging its economic policies.
To put things into perspective, July’s inflation rate of 7.44% and the staggering 11.51% increase in food prices are a significant jump from June’s rates of 4.87% and 4.55%, respectively. This inflation surge has also exceeded the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) tolerance limit of 6%, marking the second such breach in recent months.
In addition to food items, the prices of cereals, pulses, milk products, and even clothing and footwear have gone up, according to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
