**“Kharge Slams Centre Over Rising Inflation, Says Old-Age Pension Not Increased Despite Hardships”**

Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday sharply criticized the central government, saying that old-age pensions have “not been increased by even a single rupee” despite rising inflation making life difficult for ordinary people. He also accused the ruling BJP government of spending huge amounts of public money on advertisements and self-promotion instead of providing relief to the poor and elderly.

Speaking at a public event and during interactions with the media, Kharge said that senior citizens, poor families, and vulnerable sections of society are struggling to cope with the rising cost of living. According to him, inflation has severely affected household budgets, while government support schemes have failed to keep pace with increasing expenses.

Kharge stated that the prices of essential commodities such as food items, cooking oil, LPG cylinders, and daily necessities have risen significantly over the past few years. In such circumstances, he argued, the government should have increased old-age pension benefits to help elderly citizens maintain a dignified life. However, he claimed that no meaningful revision has been made.

“The elderly are among the most vulnerable sections of society. Many depend entirely on pensions for survival, especially in rural areas. But the current pension amount is insufficient in the face of rising inflation,” Kharge said during his remarks.

The Congress president further alleged that the government’s priorities are focused more on publicity campaigns than on welfare measures. He claimed that large sums are being spent on advertisements promoting government achievements, while social welfare programs have not received adequate attention. According to Kharge, the money being used for publicity could instead provide substantial support to poor and elderly citizens across the country.

The opposition party has repeatedly raised concerns over inflation, unemployment, and social welfare policies in recent months. Congress leaders have often accused the government of ignoring the financial difficulties faced by common citizens while emphasizing image-building campaigns.

Political observers believe that issues related to inflation and old-age pensions could become important topics in public debate, especially among rural voters and lower-income groups. Rising prices of essential goods continue to affect millions of households, making economic concerns a key political issue ahead of future elections.

The central government has not issued a detailed response to Kharge’s latest comments so far. However, the BJP-led administration has previously defended its welfare policies, highlighting initiatives such as free food grain distribution, health insurance programs, direct benefit transfers, and financial assistance schemes for economically weaker sections.

The exchange reflects the continuing political battle between the ruling government and the opposition over economic management and social welfare. While Congress is attempting to highlight the impact of inflation on ordinary citizens, the government continues to emphasize its development programs and welfare initiatives as evidence of its commitment to public welfare.