Opposition Parties Unite in Criticizing Union Budget 2026 as Visionless
NEW DELHI: The Congress party has spearheaded a strong opposition backlash against the Union Budget, condemning it as a document that lacks any coherent vision to address the pressing national challenges of economic growth and unemployment. Opposition leaders have issued stark warnings, asserting that the Indian economy is in dire straits and that the budget fails to provide meaningful solutions.
Congress Leaders Voice Grave Concerns Over Economic Direction
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, delivered a scathing assessment of the budget. He highlighted multiple critical issues that he believes have been ignored. "Youth without jobs. Falling manufacturing. Investors pulling out capital. Household savings plummeting. Farmers in distress. Looming global shocks - all ignored," Gandhi stated. He characterized the budget as one that refuses course correction and remains blind to India's real crises.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge echoed these sentiments, accusing the Modi government of having run out of ideas. He pointed to rising inequality, claiming it has surpassed levels seen under British rule. "Inequality has surpassed the levels seen under the British Raj, but the Budget does not even mention it or provide any support to SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and minority communities," Kharge emphasized.
Former Finance Minister and Regional Leaders Join the Fray
Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram criticized Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for not addressing key challenges outlined in the Economic Survey. He listed several unaddressed issues, including:
- Stress on exporters due to US tariffs and its impact on investment
- The precarious employment situation, particularly youth unemployment
- Persistent trade deficits
- Reluctance of the private sector to invest
- Low Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and outflow of Foreign Institutional Investment (FII)
- Divergence between inflation numbers and ground realities
- Large-scale closure of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav mocked the budget as a gift exclusively for the top 5% of the population. He argued that it is bereft of ideas to help the poor or create jobs for the youth, further amplifying the criticism from the opposition benches.
West Bengal and Other States Express Disappointment
Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee delivered a particularly colorful critique, labeling the budget a "Humpty Dumpty Budget." She asserted that the speech's "jugglery of words" and "sound and fury" cannot conceal the fact that West Bengal received nothing substantial. "Funds and subsidies for education have declined. There is a decline in subsidies for social security and fertilisers," Banerjee noted. She went on to describe the economy as totally derailed and the budget as reflecting incompetence, calling it a "garbage of lies." She summarized it as "directionless, visionless, missionless, and actionless."
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] added its voice, stating that the budget has once again proven the Modi government's commitment to a few big business houses and the wealthy, at the expense of working people and weaker sections of society.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed disappointment, noting that the budget ignored the state's needs. He highlighted the lack of assurance for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers and job creation for the youth, underscoring regional grievances within the broader opposition critique.
The unified opposition stance paints a picture of a budget perceived as failing to meet the expectations of various segments of Indian society, from farmers and youth to marginalized communities and states seeking greater support.
