Odisha records highest inflation in country; BJP hits out at BJD for price rise

Bhubaneswar: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today targeted the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government in Odisha as the state recorded the highest retail inflation in the country in March this year.

As per the data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Odisha recorded the highest retail inflation rate of 7.1 per cent among all major states in the country in March, 2024.

The retail inflation in rural areas of Odisha was 7.3 per cent and the inflation rate in urban areas of the state was 6.5 per cent.

Assam and Haryana recorded the second highest inflation rate of 6.1 per cent in March, 2024. The retail inflation was 5.7 per cent in Bihar and 5.6 per cent in Telangana.

Delhi witnessed the lowest retail inflation rate of 2.3 per cent, followed by Uttarakhand at 3.6 per cent and Himachal Pradesh at 4.1 per cent in March.

The overall inflation rate in the country was 4.9 per cent in March.

“Odisha recorded the highest retail inflation in the country in March as per the data provided by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The BJP government at the Centre managed to keep the retail inflation rate under control despite unfavourable condition at the international level. However, the Odisha government has failed to arrest the inflation rate,” said BJP spokesperson Satyabrata Panda at a presser here today.

The BJP leader further alleged that the prices of many essential commodities, including those of onion and garlic, have gone up significantly in Odisha in last few months.

Panda blamed the collection of commission from the traders and inefficiency of the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare department for high retail inflation rate in Odisha.