G. Kumar Naik, Raichur MP, has criticised the Union government over rising prices and urged it to take measures to contain inflation, particularly the pressure being faced by rural households and small businesses.

In a statement issued ahead of the Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting scheduled from October 5 to 7, Mr. Naik said the discussion on monetary policy should not remain confined to English business media, as rising prices were directly affecting ordinary people.

Referring to inflation figures, he said retail inflation had risen to 4.82% in August 2026, crossing the RBI’s 4% target for the third consecutive month. He also cited the RBI’s projection of inflation reaching 5.9% in the October-December quarter. According to him, onion prices had risen to around ₹70 a kg, while egg prices were nearly 40% higher than a year earlier. He said rural areas across the country were facing greater pressure, with drought adding to the difficulties of families.

Mr. Naik also raised concerns over wholesale inflation, saying the prices paid by shopkeepers and small businesses for goods purchased in bulk had increased from around 2% in January to nearly 10% in June. He said small businesses were finding it difficult to pass on the increased costs to consumers and that this could affect their earnings and employment.

He attributed part of the price pressure to external factors such as the conflict in West Asia and poor monsoon, but also criticised the Centre’s policies. He particularly objected to the continued diversion of sugarcane and maize for ethanol production, arguing that more agricultural produce should be available for food and poultry feed. He also criticised the government’s decision to restrict food exports, saying it affected farmers and reflected shortcomings in planning.

At the same time, Mr. Naik acknowledged that keeping petrol and diesel prices in check and releasing foodgrain from government stocks had provided some relief. However, he said such measures were not a substitute for a comprehensive strategy to address food inflation. He pointed to the lack of an adequate system to measure food losses during production, storage and transportation and said cold-storage facilities remained inadequate.

He also called for temporarily reducing the use of sugarcane and maize for ethanol, ensuring that cheaper onions, sugar and grain from government stocks reach village markets and drought-hit areas, and expanding cold-storage facilities in rural areas and small towns.

Mr. Naik also urged the government to communicate fiscal and monetary policy decisions in Indian languages and called for senior leaders to speak openly about price trends so that people could plan their household expenditure. “Our policy decisions must keep people at the centre, instead of focusing on managing headlines,” he said.