Congress attacks Centre over price rise of commodities

Taking to Twitter, Congress spokesperson, Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "Too difficult day by day now? Prices of pulses and pulses increased by 16 per cent in 30 days Arhar Dal Rs 125/Kg. and Chana Dal Rs 80/Kg. reached. From ration-kitchen to medicine, everything became expensive. When will this cycle of inflation end?"

The wholesale price-based inflation in February rose to 13.11 per cent on hardening of prices of crude oil. WPI inflation has remained in double digits for the 11th consecutive month beginning April 2021.

Inflation last month was 12.96 per cent, while in February last year, it was 4.83 per cent.

In a statement, the Commerce and Industry Ministry said, the high rate of inflation in Feb 2022, is primarily due to rise in prices of mineral oils, basic metals, chemicals and chemical products, crude petroleum & natural gas, food articles and non-food articles etc... as compared to the corresponding month of the previous year.

According to experts, one of the main reasons vegetable prices are increasing so steadily is that the cost of transportation has increased.

Petrol and diesel prices were hiked again by 80 paise a litre each on Wednesday, taking the total increase in rates to Rs 10 per litre in 16 days. Petrol in Delhi will now cost Rs 105.41 per litre as against 104.61 yesterday, while diesel rates have gone up from Rs 95.87 per litre to 96.677, according to a price notification of state fuel retailers.