New Delhi: Around 300 people, mostly women, marched through the Kotla Mubarakpur market on Wednesday evening as Congress organised ‘Halla Bol’ over rising inflation, alleging that the prices of essential commodities have increased sharply under BJP-run central govt and pushed middle-class and lower-income families into financial distress.Gathering near Pilanji Chowk in Kasturba Nagar, the protesters highlighted the increasing costs of milk, LPG cylinders, petrol, diesel, vegetables and other household essentials.Many women participants said stagnant salaries and soaring prices were making it difficult to manage daily household expenses. “We are earning the same salaries, but prices of everything have increased. How will we run our households?” asked Anamika.Rajendra Singh, who runs a business to support his four-member family, said, “Common people are suffering the most because every essential item has become expensive.”Congress national secretary Abhishek Dutt said, “People voted with hopes of better days, but today everything from bread to petrol and CNG has become four to five times more expensive.”Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said that while the prices of commodities did rise over time, Congress’ protest was nothing more than “political melodrama”. “It should explain why, between 2004 and 2014, during Congress govt, the country witnessed an average inflation rate of 8.2%, which rose to 10.9% in 2009,” he said. “In comparison, between 2014 and 2025, India witnessed a much lower average inflation rate of 4.7%.”
