Mithai Meltdown: Congress Criticizes Soaring Sweets Prices Amid Inflation Woes.

||Black and White Digital News||

||August ||19, 2024||

In a bold political move, the Congress party recently shared a comparative chart on X (formerly Twitter) that highlights a staggering rise in mithai (sweets) prices over the last decade, painting a vivid picture of inflation’s grip on India’s economy.

The chart underscores how the price of beloved Indian desserts, such as gulab jamun and barfi, has more than doubled since 2013. According to Congress, the cost of gulab jamun has skyrocketed from ₹160/kg in 2013 to ₹300/kg in 2024. Similarly, barfi, a household favorite, saw its price soar from ₹243/kg to ₹600/kg over the same period.

Congress leaders argue that these escalating prices are symptomatic of deeper economic woes under the current government, pointing out that sweets are not the only thing becoming unaffordable for the common citizen. Their post also highlighted how the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is affecting the pricing landscape, citing a 5% GST on sweets, and a steep 12-18% on gift hampers and zari dhaga (a decorative thread used in festive wear).

The party’s intent seems to be to spotlight inflation’s pervasive impact on even the most basic elements of Indian culture, such as traditional sweets, which are staples during festivals, weddings, and celebrations.

Indian households, already feeling the pinch of rising living costs, are now grappling with an unsettling new reality—mithai, a beloved staple of festivities, is becoming an expensive indulgence. In a compelling social media post, the Congress party released a decade-spanning price comparison, showing how popular sweets like gulab jamun and barfi have nearly doubled in price since 2013.