New Delhi: The Congress Tuesday launched an all-out assault towards the Narendra Modi authorities over the difficulty of inflation, tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi “Mehngai [inflation] Man”.
Addressing the media with a basket stuffed with greens and spices of on a regular basis use — such tomatoes, garlic, inexperienced chili and ginger — in entrance of her, the Congress’s nationwide spokesperson Supriya Shrinate mentioned, “we had learn and heard about Tremendous Man and Spider Man and now we’ve a Mehngai Man in India and his identify is [Prime Minister] Narendra Modi”. She added, “This basket [the one in front of her] prices as a lot as Rs. 1070 right now. However does the federal government care?”
The press convention got here on a day when the value of economic LPG gasoline cylinders went up by Rs. 7 — from Rs. 1,773 to 1,780 in Delhi.
“Modi ji, got here to energy with an empty promise of saving us from inflation” alleged Shrinate, including that the value of flour had elevated by 46 % from 2013 — when the Congress was in energy on the Centre; Modi turned PM in 2014. Shrinate additional listed that the value of rice had crossed Rs. 36 per kg, in comparison with the Rs. 25 in 2013. Pulses, priced at Rs. 72 per kg then, now come for greater than Rs.160-170. Mustard oil has doubled from Rs. 90 per litre to Rs. 185, and even the value of salt has elevated by 41 %, she claimed.
Talking on the Congress headquarters in Delhi, Shrinate additionally focused the central authorities over “rising unemployment”, which she alleged was “at its highest in two years”. “The fact is that unemployment within the nation is at a two-year peak. Has the federal government responded to it? They proceed to look away,” the Congress chief alleged.
Shrinate, who can also be the celebration’s chairperson of social media & digital platforms, mentioned that the Modi authorities had no intentions to supply reduction to the widespread folks.
“If the federal government needs, it will possibly scale back the costs instantly. Scale back excise responsibility, it’ll scale back costs of diesel, due to this fact transportation and vegetable costs will come down. Why is the federal government not doing it? As a result of it’s busy making income,” she alleged.
Based on authorities knowledge, retail inflation in India stood at 4.25 % in Could. This was the bottom in over two years. Meals and drinks inflation additionally slipped from 4.16 % in April to three.29 % in Could.
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Evaluating the Bharatiya Janata Celebration-led authorities on the Centre to the Congress authorities in states like Rajasthan and Karnataka, Shrinate alleged that the Modi authorities was not doing something to regulate inflation.
“Take a look at Congress governments. Our Congress authorities in Rajasthan is dedicated to bringing reduction. We’re giving [LPG] cylinders for Rs. 500. Our authorities in Karnataka has made bus companies free. That has left further cash within the arms of girls,” she mentioned.
The Congress laid down 4 main calls for from the Modi authorities.
Other than demanding management in worth hikes of important commodities, Shrinate mentioned, “People who find themselves reeling underneath excessive costs must be given some financial assist.. some fiscal assist”.
She additionally demanded that the federal government removes the Items and Companies Tax (GST) from important commodities like flour and yogurt and “cease profiteering” from the identical. Speaking in regards to the worth of diesel, Shrinate reiterated, “Rationalise the value of diesel to cut back the rising costs of greens”.
(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)
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