The Congress on Thursday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s entire focus is not on reducing inflation, but on showing low inflation figures, stating that a government focused on propaganda and data manipulation cannot be trusted to work for the welfare of the people.

Congress general secretary for communications Jairam Ramesh said that India has experienced ten years of Modi-made inflation, which was due to the poor policy of the government.

“The Prime Minister’s focus is not on curbing inflation but on portraying it as low. The government is actively attempting to manipulate the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Wholesale Price Index (WPI) statistics to suggest that inflation is under control, while in reality, ordinary citizens are faced with relentless price increases,” Ramesh said in a statement shared on X.

He highlighted that the surge in prices, especially for food, fuel, and everyday necessities, has imposed a significant burden on working-class and middle-class families in India. Despite a decline in global crude oil prices, petrol and diesel remain costly in India, exacerbating transportation and service costs, Ramesh noted.

“Food inflation remains a critical issue, contributing to the overall inflation levels. The government is now considering reducing the weightage of food items in the CPI, which is a tactic to obscure the real effects of inflation, showing a preference for manipulating uncomfortable data instead of addressing the issue,” he explained.

Ramesh added that this proposed change in CPI weightage is not only dishonest but will also adversely affect the incomes of an estimated 3-4 crore individuals, including government and semi-government employees. He pointed out that dearness allowance and salary increases have already diminished compared to the period under the UPA government, and further declines are expected.

“This is not a new occurrence. The Modi government has consistently attempted to mislead the public with data manipulation. For instance, when the BJP government lagged behind the UPA in GDP growth, it sought to artificially inflate the growth figures by altering the base year,” he stated, noting similar tactics in relation to job creation promises.

Hemant Soren took oath as the chief minister of Jharkhand for the fourth term in the presence of the top INDIA block leaders in Ranchi on Thursday.

Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar administered the oath of office and secrecy to Hemant Soren.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav were present among other top INDIA bloc leaders.

“Today’s historic day is dedicated to the struggle of the immortal brave martyrs, great revolutionaries and agitators of Jharkhand,” the chief minister said on X. He also dedicated this day to the crores of people of Jharkhand. “Abua Sarkar–Government of every Jharkhandi.”

Speaking to reporters after the oath ceremony, Governor Santosh Gangwar extended his wishes to the new government. “I believe that this state will make a good place for itself in the country and make good progress and development,” he said.

In the recently concluded state Assembly elections, the JMM-led coalition secured 56 out of 81 seats. The party, led by Hemant Soren, contested 41 seats and won 34, while the Congress gained 16 of the 30 seats it contested. The RJD and CPIML claimed six and four seats, respectively.

“It is a great day for Jharkhand. People have shown a lot of confidence. I am sure that the entire alliance will do d very good job. It is a big lesson because they tried to harass him. Harassing leaders will not help. So, this is also one of the examples after Karnataka,” Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar told reporters after attending the oath ceremony here.

Hemant Soren, 49, began his political journey with a brief tenure in the Rajya Sabha before becoming an MLA in 2009. He served as deputy chief minister from 2010 to 2013 when the JMM was allied with the BJP under the then chief minister Arjun Munda.

In 2013, Soren became chief minister following the JMM’s alliance with the Congress and RJD. After the BJP won the 2014 state election, Soren assumed the role of Leader of the Opposition in the assembly. The JMM-Congress coalition triumphed in the 2019 Assembly election, leading to Soren’s second term as chief minister.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday captured a special moment of his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra while she was entering the Parliament for the first time as a member after a massive victory in the recent Wayanad Lok Sabha byelection.

In the video shared widely on the internet, while brother Rahul was moving a bit ahead at the stairs took out his mobile phone and asked her sister to stop, while she was steps away from the Parliament hall’s main entrance, to click some pictures of sister and newly elected Wayanad MP.

A video of of Rahul Gandhi clicking pictures of Priyanka Gandhi, and asking her to smile was shared by an X user.

In the video, Rahul is heard saying, “Let me take a picture too,” as laughter and lighthearted moments unfold among the group. Another clip shows Rahul asking Priyanka to step back so he can photograph her, while others move aside. True to his role as a supportive brother, he also shared the photo with Priyanka.

Priyanka’s oath of office followed her impressive victory in Kerala’s Wayanad constituency. Today, she took her oath as a Lok Sabha MP, joining her mother Sonia and brother Rahul in Parliament. It was a rare moment for three family members to serve together.

During the session, Priyanka took her oath in Hindi while holding a copy of the Constitution. Her journey into active politics officially began with today’s oath-taking in the Lok Sabha, accompanied by fellow Congress leader Ravindra Vasantrao Chavan, who was also sworn in as an MP from Nanded.

Priyanka arrived in Parliament alongside her mother, and her brother Rahul Gandhi and husband Robert Vadra were present to support her during the ceremony.

She secured the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat with a remarkable margin of 410,931 votes in the recent by-elections, held concurrently with the Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly elections in 2024.

After entering politics in 2019 and being appointed as Congress general secretary, Priyanka Gandhi has now embarked on her journey as an elected representative of the people.