Rahul Gandhi challenges Modi as inflation rates reach 7.35 per cent

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “trying to distract the nation and divide people”.

Rahul Gandhi also challenged him to go to a university and tell students what he is going to do to improve India’s economy.

Rahul Gandhi’s statement comes even as retail inflation jumped sharply to 7.35 per cent in December 2019.

This inflation rate has surpassed the RBI's comfort level, mainly due to high food prices, government data showed on Monday.

In December, when the central bank kept its key interest rate unchanged after its monetary policy review, it cited "much higher than expected" inflation for its decision.

In November, the retail inflation was recorded at 5.54 per cent, up from 4.62 per cent in October.

Onion prices - an important food in Indian households contributed to the surge in food inflation that has picked up steadily since March.

Rahul Gandhi has hit out at the government for the  economic chaos in the country.

Rahul said,"Narendra Modi should have courage to tell youngsters why Indian economy has become a disaster...He doesn't have guts to stand in front of students.

I challenge him to go to any university, stand there without police and tell people what he's going to do for this country,” he said after an Opposition parties meeting called by the Congress.

“Instead of addressing the problem of the youth, Narendra Modi is trying to distract the nation and divide people.

Voice of the youth is legitimate, it should not be suppressed, the government should listen to it,” Rahul Gandhi added.