Food inflation soared to 17.05 per cent for the week ended January 22, rising for the second straight week. This follows costlier vegetables, fruits and milk.

Food inflation rose by 1.48 percentage points from 15.57 per cent in the previous week. The food inflation last year had stood at 20.56 per cent. On an annual basis, onion prices rose by 130.41 per cent in the third week of January, although they have moderated considerably in the recent days.

The overall inflation for December rose to 8.43 percent, from 7.48 per cent in the previous month. The RBI has projected the headline inflation to be at 7 per cent by March end.

DMK today said that it stands by former Telecom Minister A Raja. A resolution adopted at the DMK General Council meeting in Chennai, said, the opposition is unnecessarily targeting Raja. The party said, just because he is arrested, Raja cannot be called guilty. The DMK slammed the opposition for blowing out of proportion the 2G Spectrum scam, saying it is only to malign the party. The meeting comes against the backdrop of the arrest of former Telecom Minister and DMK leader A Raja.