Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi-led central government, accusing it of burdening citizens with inflation, unemployment and economic hardship while favouring the wealthy.
In a post on social media platform X, Kharge alleged that the government was focused more on “public relations” than addressing the economic concerns of ordinary people. “Modi ji wants the public to enjoy the ‘melody’ of speeches while surviving the ‘misery’ of his government’s loot,” Kharge said.
The veteran Congress leader claimed that in the past 11 years under the BJP-led government, the “average debt per Indian has increased 11-fold,” while “the wealth of 229 tycoons, along with 26 newly added billionaires, has reportedly crossed Rs 97.50 lakh crore.”
Targeting the government over inflation, Kharge alleged that prices of essential commodities and fuels had risen steeply over the years. He claimed that the price of domestic LPG cylinders had increased by 121 per cent, from Rs 414 in 2014 to Rs 915.5 in 2026, while commercial LPG cylinder prices had risen by nearly 154 per cent.
“CNG, milk, bread and medicines — every price is skyrocketing,” Kharge wrote, alleging that citizens were being crushed under rising living costs. He further accused the Centre of collecting more than Rs 43 lakh crore through petrol taxes and excise duties over the last 12 years.
Referring to recent fuel price hikes, Kharge said government-owned oil companies had generated nearly Rs 12,400 crore “within hours,” while households continued to face mounting financial pressure.
The Congress chief also raised concerns over unemployment and examination paper leaks, claiming that youth unemployment in the 15-29 age group had reached 15.2 per cent in March 2026. “Ninety examination paper leaks in 10 years under BJP rule have shattered recruitment credibility and devastated the future of nearly nine crore youth,” he alleged.
Kharge further criticised the government over the weakening rupee, foreign exchange reserves and foreign portfolio investment outflows. He claimed that the rupee had fallen to an “all-time low” of 96.90 against the US dollar, while India’s foreign exchange reserves had declined by around USD 38 billion in the wake of the West Asia conflict.
According to Kharge, foreign portfolio investor outflows from Indian equity markets have touched Rs 2.2 lakh crore so far in 2026, surpassing the Rs 1.66 lakh crore recorded during the entire previous year.
“By imposing economic hardship, the BJP government has left around 80 crore citizens dependent on a 5 kg ration support system,” he said.
The Congress has consistently attacked the Modi government over inflation, unemployment and alleged economic inequality in the run-up to key political battles, while the BJP has maintained that its welfare schemes, infrastructure push and economic policies have strengthened the country’s long-term growth prospects and improved the lives of the poor.