Congress Party Criticizes Narendra Modi Over Rising Wholesale Inflation

The Indian National Congress criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 14, 2026, alleging that the government is ignoring severe financial hardships facing millions of families. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh cited official data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showing that Wholesale Price Index inflation has hovered around 10 percent for four consecutive months, reaching 9.92 percent in August.

Specific price surges included fuel and power inflation, which rose to 22.93 percent in August, while food inflation reached 7.05 percent and manufactured products hit a series high of 8.37 percent. Ramesh attributed these increases in part to global crude oil and fertilizer price hikes caused by the West Asia conflict and disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz.

Beyond price increases, Ramesh claimed that inflation-adjusted wages have fallen 5.7 percent since April, with rural wages experiencing a more severe 9 percent decline. Using the wordplay "sab changa si" (all is well) versus "sab mehnga si" (everything is expensive), Ramesh accused the Prime Minister of misrepresenting the economic reality while essential costs continue to rise.