Archive · 21 Sep 2026
Congress Targets Modi Government as Food Prices Squeeze Households
Congress says many everyday foods have become more expensive.
It says this is making it harder for families to manage their budgets.
Jairam Ramesh pointed to higher prices for spices, pulses, cooking oils and onions.
He said onion prices rose by 82.3% between June and September.
Congress blamed the Narendra Modi government and asked why it was silent about inflation.
It also referred to the promise of “achche din,” meaning good days.
Ramesh used a famous Bollywood song to ask what happened to the government’s promises.
The government has rejected such criticism and has pointed to India’s GDP figures.
The price figures were cited by Congress from a media report.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh criticized the Narendra Modi government over rising food prices and questioned the prime minister’s silence on inflation.
Ramesh cited increases in spices, pulses and cooking oils, including arhar dal rising from ₹100 to ₹130 per kilogram.
He claimed the average retail price of onions rose 82.3%, from ₹29.50 per kilogram in June to ₹53.78 in September.
Using the 1977 Bollywood song “Kya Hua Tera Vada,” Congress linked inflation to the BJP’s “achche din” promise.
Ramesh demanded immediate government action to control what he called uncontrolled inflation and provide relief to households.
- Who
- The Indian National Congress, led in this criticism by general secretary Jairam Ramesh, targeted the Narendra Modi government.
- What
- Congress criticized rising prices of food items, pulses, cooking oils and onions, and demanded immediate relief.
- When
- Monday, September 21, 2026; the cited onion comparison covers June to September.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- Congress said higher prices were putting middle-class and poorer households under financial pressure and questioned the government’s silence on inflation.
Congress criticism
Government response
Responsibility for inflation
Congress criticism
Congress blamed the Modi government for rising prices, called its policies anti-people and questioned its silence on inflation.
Government response
The government rejected the criticism and pointed to India’s gross domestic product figures in response.
Need for action
Congress criticism
Jairam Ramesh demanded strict, immediate measures to control prices and provide relief to households.
Government response
The article does not identify specific relief measures or a detailed government response beyond its rejection of the criticism and reference to GDP figures.
- Main critic
- Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in charge of communications
- Onion price claim
- The all-India average retail price allegedly rose from ₹29.50/kg in June to ₹53.78/kg in September, an 82.3% increase.
- Arhar dal
- The cited price rose from ₹100/kg to ₹130/kg.
- Mustard oil
- The cited price rose from ₹190/litre to ₹210/litre.
- Safola oil
- The cited price rose from ₹240/litre to ₹280/litre.
- Spice increases
- Cited monthly increases included green cardamom from ₹4,000/kg to ₹4,400/kg and cumin from ₹360/kg to ₹400/kg.
- Congress demand
- Immediate measures to control what it called uncontrolled inflation and provide relief to people.