Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader and MP Supriya Sule on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Maharashtra government over rising inflation, saying the soaring prices of essential commodities have “broken the back of the common man.”

The party staged a protest near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai, with party workers raising slogans against the government over the rising cost of living. Several protesters wore garlands made of vegetables and foodgrains to highlight the sharp increase in prices.

Addressing the media during the protest, Sule said, “Go home and ask your mother, sister or wife how much inflation has increased.” She said the prices of vegetables, grains, milk, sugar and other essential commodities were putting immense pressure on household budgets.

“The difference between government statistics and the actual expenditure of a household needs to be examined. What is the real food inflation? Ask the women managing households. They will tell you how difficult it has become to run the family budget,” Sule said.

She pointed out that inflation was being felt from breakfast to the daily cooking at home. “Milk is a basic necessity and the day begins with it for most families, yet its price has also increased. The government is breaking the back of the common man,” she alleged.

Sule also criticised the government over welfare schemes, claiming that several announcements made during elections lose momentum after the polls. Referring to the ‘Anandacha Shidha’ scheme, she said it had provided some relief to poor and needy families but was no longer reaching beneficiaries in the same manner. She further alleged that the names of a large number of women had been removed from the scheme after the elections.

Inflation hitting farmers too

Sule said inflation was not merely an urban problem and had equally serious consequences in rural Maharashtra. Farmers were facing mounting debt and distress, while cases of farmer suicides continued to be reported, she said.

“Much was said about loan waivers, but the question is how much justice has actually been delivered to the farmer who grows the food we eat,” she said, demanding greater support for farmers.

She added that migrant and working-class citizens who come to cities in search of employment were also bearing the daily burden of rising prices. “Inflation is affecting the quality of life of people in both rural and urban areas,” she said.

‘Protect your right to vote’

Sule also appealed to citizens to verify their names in the electoral rolls. Referring to Dr B.R. Ambedkar and the Constitution, she said every citizen had been given the right to vote and urged voters not to lose that right.

“Check whether your name is on the electoral roll. If your name appears twice, get it corrected. If it has been deleted, complete the necessary procedure immediately,” she said.

Taking aim at the government over various ongoing protests, Sule said members of the Maratha community, OBCs, tribals, women and students of ashram schools were being forced to take to the streets to get their demands heard.

“It is unfortunate that citizens have to repeatedly protest to draw the government’s attention. The government does not wake up until an agitation reaches its peak,” she said.

GDP growth cannot hide household distress

Sule also questioned the government’s claims about the strength of the economy, saying economic growth figures must be viewed alongside the financial condition of ordinary households.

“If the government says the economy is strong, it must also listen to economists and former Reserve Bank governors. There is a gap between GDP growth figures and the financial reality inside ordinary homes,” she said, stressing that economic policy should focus on people’s actual living conditions rather than statistics alone.

Sule further defended students holding peaceful protests over their demands. “They are our children. They were sitting peacefully, singing songs and demanding justice. What was their fault? The Constitution gives them the right to protest peacefully. That right must not be taken away,” she said.

‘What kind of justice and democracy is this?’

Sule also expressed displeasure over the repeated postponement of the hearing in her party’s case. She said the party had repeatedly sought to have the matter placed before the appropriate board but was yet to receive a hearing date.

“If our side is not even heard in a democracy, then what kind of justice is this and what kind of democracy is this?” she asked.

The protest saw the participation of a large number of NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) office-bearers and workers, who raised slogans against the government and demanded immediate measures to bring down the prices of essential commodities.