'Kya Hua Tera Vada': Congress Targets PM Modi Over Rising Food Prices

Congress Targets Modi Government Over Rising Food Prices

The Congress on September 21, 2026, stepped up its criticism of the Narendra Modi-led central government over rising prices of essential food items.

Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh cited increases in the prices of spices, pulses and cooking oils and argued that higher food costs were putting pressure on household budgets, particularly for middle-class and lower-income families.

Ramesh also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's response to inflation and used the phrase “Kya Hua Tera Vada?”, referencing the popular 1977 Bollywood song from Hum Kisise Kum Nahin, to frame the party's criticism.

What Did Jairam Ramesh Say?

Ramesh shared a report on social media concerning rising prices and alleged that the increase in essential commodity prices was making daily life more difficult for consumers.

He said several spices had become significantly more expensive over the preceding month and argued that the price increases were particularly burdensome for poorer households.

The Congress leader also questioned the government's response to the price pressures and referred to the political slogan of “achche din” while asking where the promised improvement in people's economic conditions had gone.

The statements represent the Congress's political assessment of the government's handling of inflation.

Spices Become a Major Part of Congress's Attack

According to price figures cited by Ramesh, several spices recorded substantial increases over the previous month.

The figures he cited included:

CommodityPrice cited previouslyPrice cited in SeptemberChangeGreen cardamomRs 4,000/kgRs 4,400/kg+10%Black cardamomRs 2,400/kgRs 2,800/kg+16.7%CuminRs 360/kgRs 400/kg+11.1%MaceRs 2,500/kgRs 3,000/kg+20%

These figures were cited by Ramesh in his political criticism and should not be interpreted as an independent estimate of nationwide retail inflation for each commodity.

Pulses and Edible Oils Also Highlighted

Ramesh also pointed to increases in the prices of commonly consumed pulses.

According to the figures cited by him, arhar dal increased from Rs 100 to Rs 130 per kg, while chana dal rose from Rs 70 to Rs 100 per kg. Urad dal was cited as increasing from Rs 120 to Rs 140 per kg.

He also highlighted increases in cooking-oil prices. Mustard oil, according to the figures he cited, rose from Rs 190 to Rs 210 per litre, while Safola oil increased from Rs 240 to Rs 280 per litre.

The Congress used these price movements to argue that higher food costs are putting pressure on household budgets.

Congress Cites Rise in Onion Prices

Onions were another major part of the Congress's argument.

Ramesh claimed that the all-India average retail price of onions rose from Rs 29.50 per kg in June to Rs 53.78 per kg in September. He calculated this as an increase of approximately 82.3% over around three and a half months.

Onion prices can be particularly significant for household budgets because the vegetable is widely consumed across India and its prices can fluctuate considerably depending on supply, weather conditions, storage and arrivals in wholesale markets.

Why Food Inflation Matters to Households

Food-price increases can have a direct impact on household expenditure because food represents a significant component of consumer spending.

Price increases in staples such as pulses, edible oils, spices and vegetables can reduce the amount of money households have available for other expenses.

Lower-income households can be particularly sensitive to food-price changes because a larger share of their budgets may already be allocated to essential consumption.

The Congress has therefore made food prices a recurring part of its criticism of the government's economic policies.

'Kya Hua Tera Vada' Reference

Ramesh used the phrase “Kya hua tera vada? Woh kasam, woh irada?” as a political reference while criticising the government over inflation.

The phrase comes from a well-known song from the 1977 film Hum Kisise Kum Nahin. Congress used the reference to question what it described as a gap between promises concerning people's economic well-being and the prices consumers are currently facing.

The reference is part of the Congress's political messaging rather than an economic measurement.

Congress Questions Government's Response to Inflation

Ramesh argued that the central government should take immediate measures to control what Congress described as rising or uncontrolled inflation.

The party has repeatedly raised the issue of household expenses and essential commodity prices as part of its broader economic criticism of the Modi government.

Congress has also linked the issue to the purchasing power of middle-class and poorer households, arguing that higher prices can offset improvements in income or employment.

Government Rejects Opposition's Economic Criticism

The government's position differs from the Congress's assessment.

Reports on the latest political exchange said the government has rejected the opposition's criticism and pointed to India's broader GDP performance while defending its economic record.

This reflects a broader political disagreement over which indicators should be used to assess economic conditions.

While the Congress is focusing on retail prices and household expenses, the government has highlighted wider macroeconomic indicators such as economic growth.

Food Prices and Overall Inflation Are Not the Same Measure

An important distinction is that individual food prices and overall inflation are not identical measures.

The price of a particular commodity can rise sharply because of supply shortages, weather conditions, seasonal changes, transportation costs or international prices even when broader inflation behaves differently.

Similarly, a fall in the price of one food item does not necessarily mean household food costs have fallen overall.

For this reason, economists generally examine a broader basket of goods and services when assessing inflation.

Why Commodity Prices Can Rise

Food and commodity prices can be influenced by several factors, including:

• Weather and crop conditions

• Domestic production

• Wholesale market arrivals

• Storage and supply chains

• Transportation costs

• Global commodity prices

• Import and export policies

• Seasonal demand

• Currency movements

The price of spices and edible oils can also be affected by international supply conditions and import costs.

Therefore, changes in retail prices cannot automatically be attributed to a single government policy or factor.

Rising Food Prices Become a Political Issue

Food inflation frequently becomes a political issue because consumers experience price changes directly when purchasing everyday necessities.

Opposition parties can use rising prices to question government economic policies, while governments typically point to a broader range of economic indicators and policy measures.

The latest Congress criticism follows this familiar political pattern, with the party focusing on household purchasing power and the government defending its broader economic record.

What Consumers Should Watch

Consumers trying to understand the inflation situation should look beyond individual commodity prices.

Important indicators include:

• Consumer Price Index inflation

• Food inflation

• Prices of pulses and edible oils

• Vegetable and onion prices

• Household income growth

• Retail and wholesale price trends

• Rural and urban consumption

• Government measures to manage essential commodity supplies

Looking at trends over several months can provide a more complete picture than comparing prices at two individual points in time.

Congress Calls for Consumer Relief

Ramesh called on the central government to take measures to contain price pressures and provide relief to consumers.

The Congress's latest criticism focuses particularly on the affordability of essential food products and the effect of higher prices on poorer households.

The government has not accepted Congress's characterisation of its economic policies and has pointed to broader economic performance in response to such criticism.

The Larger Debate Over India's Cost of Living

The dispute over food prices is part of a wider debate about India's cost of living.

For households, the important issue is not only the headline inflation rate but also how prices of frequently purchased goods change.

A relatively stable overall inflation rate can coexist with sharp increases in individual products, while falling prices in some categories can offset increases elsewhere.

This makes household-level experience and official inflation measures important but distinct ways of assessing price pressures.

What Happens Next?

The political debate over food prices is likely to continue as parties assess the impact of commodity prices on household budgets.

The Congress is expected to continue highlighting individual price increases and calling for measures to control essential commodity prices.

The government, meanwhile, is likely to emphasise broader economic indicators and its measures relating to food supply, inflation management and economic growth.

The direction of food prices in the coming months will depend on domestic production, supply conditions, seasonal factors and global commodity markets.

Bottom Line

The Congress has criticised the Modi government over what it described as rising prices of essential food items, pulses, spices and cooking oils. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh cited increases in several commodities and questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's response to inflation. He used the phrase “Kya Hua Tera Vada?” as a political reference to question the government's economic record.

Ramesh also cited an increase in the all-India average retail price of onions from Rs 29.50 per kg in June to Rs 53.78 per kg in September, although this figure was presented as part of Congress's political argument.

The government has rejected the opposition's broader criticism and pointed to India's GDP performance. The latest exchange therefore reflects an ongoing political debate over inflation, household expenses and the government's economic policies.