Protest at CSMT
Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MP Supriya Sule on Wednesday led a protest near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai against inflation and rising prices of essential commodities. Addressing protesters, Sule questioned how ordinary and middle-class families would manage their daily expenses as prices of essential goods continue to rise.
"It is challenging times. People are being taxed. Food inflation is out of the roof. How does one afford a meal in this country now?" Sule said, according to the Free Press Journal. She referred to prices of milk, wheat, rice, and sugar, asking, "How will common man, who is hardworking, live in this country?"
NCP (SP) workers raised slogans against the government during the protest, and visuals from the demonstration were shared live on Sule's X account. Some protesters also purchased essential commodities, including grains and vegetables, at the protest site to highlight the impact of rising prices, as reported by Free Press Journal.
Festival Season Concerns
Sule linked the issue of rising prices to the upcoming Ganesh festival, saying, "There are hardly eight days left for the Ganesh festival, and after that, other festivals are coming up back-to-back. If prices of essential goods continue to rise like this, how will a middle-class person afford them while also paying taxes?" This was reported by both Free Press Journal and Lokmat Times.
She added that the financial pressure would be felt by families managing household expenses and festival-related costs simultaneously.
Impact on Farmers and Rural Areas
Sule said inflation was not limited to urban households but was also affecting families in rural areas. According to her, farmers are facing mounting debt, with serious incidents such as suicides also being reported.
"The government made a big fuss about loan waivers, but in reality, how much justice has the farmer who grows food grains received? A farmer who solves our food grain problem by being honest with the soil should get justice," Sule said, as quoted by Free Press Journal. She also noted that citizens who come to cities for work are being affected by inflation every day.
Criticism of Economic Assessment
Sule criticised the Centre's assessment of the country's economic situation, saying, "A different picture is being shown. That is not what the old governors and experts are saying. They are saying something completely different. So, the situation is very, very worrying," according to Free Press Journal. She described the situation as alarming, as reported by Lokmat Times.
Security and Context
Heavy security was deployed at the protest site, with police personnel monitoring the situation and maintaining law and order during the demonstration, as reported by both outlets. The protest comes amid reports of increases in the prices of milk, taxi and auto-rickshaw fares, as well as LPG cylinders from September 1, triggering concerns among middle-class and low-income households.