Bhubaneswar: The Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Thursday stepped up its attack on the Odisha government over inflation, alleging that the state’s retail inflation at 5.52 per cent in August is significantly higher than the national rate of 4.82 per cent.
BJD spokesperson Mihir Ray said Odisha has recorded the fifth-highest retail inflation among states in August, behind Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
He said inflation in rural Odisha stood at 5.90 per cent, significantly higher than the 4.47 per cent recorded in urban areas. Ray alleged that the state’s inflation rate has remained above the national average over the past two years, causing a rise in the prices of essential commodities and adding to the burden on consumers.
During 2024-25, Odisha’s inflation rate was 6 per cent against the national rate of 4.6 per cent, he claimed.
Ray said prices of commodities such as sugar, onions and edible oil had risen substantially and alleged that the state government had failed to take effective measures to contain inflation.
He also criticised the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department, alleging that it had failed to respond adequately to the persistent rise in prices.
The BJD’s remarks came after the latest Consumer Price Index data showed India’s retail inflation rising to 4.82 per cent in August from 4.45 per cent in July. Food inflation at the national level rose to 5.95 per cent during the month.