Congress Party Demands Modi Resign Over Rising Food Inflation
Jairam Ramesh accused the Indian government of robbing middle-class savings as food inflation hit 7.74 percent and the central bank raised interest rates.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh called for the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 13, 2026, citing an economic catastrophe driven by rising inflation. Ramesh highlighted National Statistics Office data showing that food inflation reached 7.74 percent in September, with onion prices specifically surging by 108 percent. He argued that retail inflation hit a 23-month high of 5.54 percent, impacting not only food but also transportation, education, and clothing.
In response to these economic pressures, the Reserve Bank of India raised its benchmark repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50 percent, marking the first increase in nearly four years. The central bank also raised its annual retail inflation forecast to 5.2 percent to combat a weak rupee and rising prices.
The government dismissed the opposition's claims by pointing to GDP growth numbers. This political clash occurred as the International Monetary Fund projected 7 percent economic growth for India in FY27 and FY28, though the organization warned that global economic resilience is becoming more fragile due to high energy and food prices and geopolitical uncertainty.
