‘Kya hua tera vada’: Congress takes on PM Modi over rising food prices

Congress MP and General Secretary in charge of Communications Jairam Ramesh. File. | Photo credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

The Congress on Monday (September 21, 2026) attacked the Modi government over the “insignificantly rising prices” of food, citing the 1977 Bollywood number “Kya hua tera vada” and questioned its silence on inflation.

Congress general secretary in-charge of communication Jairam Ramesh shared a media report which claimed that the surge in prices of various food items along with pulses and cooking oil has completely disrupted household budgets.

In his post in Hindi, Mr. Ramesh said, “Rising food prices in the country have broken the back of the middle class and the poor.” The prices of basic commodities of daily consumption are skyrocketing and making life unbearable for the common man, he claimed.

“Spice prices have risen by a massive 10% to 25% in the last month. Green cardamom rose from ₹4,000 to ₹4,400/kg, black cardamom from ₹2,400 to ₹2,800/kg and cumin prices jumped from ₹3,460/kg straight to ₹0.00 maca. ₹2,500 to ₹3,000 per kg.”

“Arhar dal increased from ₹100 to ₹130/kg, chana dal from ₹70 to ₹100/kg and urad from ₹120 to ₹140/kg. Mustard oil climbed to ₹210/l from ₹190/litre and Safola oil by ₹80 to ₹240/kg,” Mr Ramesh said.

From June to September, the all-India average retail price of onion rose from ₹29.50/kg to ₹53.78/kg — a staggering 82.3% increase in just three-and-a-half months, he said.

Due to rising inflation, pulses and staple foods are becoming unaffordable in the homes of the poor, Mr. Ramesh said.

“But the Prime Minister is silent on inflation. The country is asking: ‘Where did the ‘achche din’ go, Prime Minister?” Are they left only in sermons?” the Congress leader said.

People are hungry, government is silent, he said and asked if this is the new India.

“What happened to you? What did I say, what did I want?” said Mr. Ramesh referring to the lyrics of the popular hit Bollywood song from the 1977 film “Hum Kisise Kum Nahin”.

The Modi government should immediately take strict action against this rampant inflation and provide relief to the common people, the Congress general secretary said.

Congress draws attention to the problem of rising prices and accuses the government of following “anti-people” policies.

However, the government rejected the claims and pointed to GDP figures.

Published – 21 Sep 2026 10:33 IST