Dhinakaran criticises Tamil Nadu minister over rising food prices

TTV Dhinakaran, general secretary of the AMMK party, criticised Tamil Nadu’s food minister over the cost of basic foods.

He said rice, lentils, oil and other food prices were rising and putting pressure on poorer and middle-income families.

Dhinakaran cited the price of a 26-kilogram sack of ordinary parboiled rice, saying it had risen from 1,100 rupees in July to 1,800 rupees.

He also said rice brought in from neighbouring states had risen by 600 rupees per sack and was selling for more than 2,000 rupees.

Dhinakaran disputed the minister’s remarks that rice prices had not risen and that reports of shortages were a manufactured perception.

He urged the minister and the Tamil Nadu government to take steps to control prices.

The account does not say what action the government will take.