I-Day Speech: Inflation emerges key concern for Modi govt

By Manish Anand

New Delhi, August 15: On the eve of the Independence Day celebrations, President Droupadi Murmu mentioned inflation by giving a global backdrop to pat her government in dealing with the inflationary situation. Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had to speak on inflation in his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort, promising steps to control of the firming up of the prices of essential items.  

“India has tried its best to control inflation. Compared to the previous period, we have also had some success, but we cannot be complacent with that. We should not be complacent that our things are better than that of the world. I have to take more steps in this direction to minimize the burden of inflation on my countrymen. And we will continue to take that step. My efforts will continue,” Modi said in his speech.

The mention of inflation in the Independence Day speech appears significant, because Modi unlike President Murmu didn’t rest by patting own efforts but assured the people that his government would be taking steps in the near future. Incidentally, the dailies in the national capital carried a front page advertisement of the Rajasthan government on the launch of the ‘Mukhyamantri Nishulk Annapurna Food Packet Yojna’, which includes packed pulses, salt, edible oil and spices.

Modi will once be carrying the electioneering burden of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the poll-bound states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The BJP’s best case scenario, claimed by the party leaders, is Rajasthan.    

“The world has not yet come out of the adverse impacts of Corona; the war has again created an additional problem. Today the world is facing the crisis of inflation. Inflation has gripped the economy of the whole world. We also import some goods from around the world. Unfortunately, we have to import at inflated prices. So, this whole world has been gripped by inflation,” Modi explained the reasons behind the unabated inflationary pressure in the economy.

The consumer price index rose to a 15-month high of 7.44 per cent for the month of July, while food inflation is now in double digit at 39-month high. Galloping tomato prices forced the Central government to press NAFED in action to sell the staple kitchen vegetable at subsidized prices. Now, the prices of spices, pulses, vegetables, wheat and rice remain firm on upward journey.  

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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