Assam BJP MLA Prashanta Phukan blames global conflicts for price rise
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator and former Assam minister Prashanta Phukan on Monday attributed the ongoing surge in prices of essential commodities to global conflicts and geopolitical instability, expressing confidence that inflationary pressures would ease in the months ahead. Phukan made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Guwahati.
Global Conflicts at the Root, Says Phukan
The BJP MLA argued that inflation is not a problem confined to Assam or India, but a symptom of a wider global economic disruption. “The price rise that we are witnessing today is linked to a global situation. Wars and conflicts are taking place across the world, and these developments are having an impact on the economy and prices everywhere,” Phukan said.
He added that ongoing international conflicts have fractured supply chains and created sustained pressure on the availability and cost of essential goods. “The environment that has been created because of the conflicts is one of the major reasons behind the inflationary trend,” he noted.
Optimism on Recovery
Despite the current strain, Phukan expressed measured optimism. “I believe that after some time, the situation will improve. Slowly and steadily, things will move towards a better condition,” he said. He maintained that once geopolitical tensions stabilise, the pressure on commodity prices should correspondingly ease.
Political Context
The remarks come at a charged moment in India’s political calendar. Rising costs of fuel, food, and daily-use items have emerged as a central opposition talking point, with multiple parties repeatedly holding the BJP-led Centre and state governments accountable for inflation. The BJP’s consistent counter-argument — that global factors, not domestic policy, are the primary driver — is reflected in Phukan’s comments.
Party Line and Broader Implications
Phukan’s position aligns with the broader BJP stance that supply chain disruptions stemming from international conflicts have contributed significantly to price increases across the economy. Notably, this framing shifts the accountability debate from domestic fiscal and monetary management toward external, largely uncontrollable variables. As global conflict dynamics evolve, the political and economic narrative around inflation in India is likely to remain contested.