Punjab Finance Minister Lambasts Union Budget 2026-27 for Neglecting Farmers and Regional Concerns
In a scathing critique of the recently presented Union Budget for the fiscal year 2026-27, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has accused the central government of "once again ignoring the legitimate concerns of Punjab and Haryana farmers", thereby exposing what he termed as "hollow claims of being pro-farmer." The minister's strong reaction came on Sunday as he dissected various aspects of the budget, highlighting what he perceives as systemic neglect and regional bias.
Agriculture and Farmer Welfare: A Major Letdown
Cheema expressed deep disappointment over the budget's approach to agriculture, stating that there was no increase in the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund and no concrete assistance to strengthen market infrastructure. "This leaves agrarian states in a state of disbelief," he remarked. He emphasized that while Punjab's farmers feed the nation, the Union government continuously neglects investment in systems that ensure long-term food security.
The minister also criticized what he called "the selective approach adopted to promote high-value crops." He pointed out that while the budget mentions crops like coconut, cashew, sandalwood, and dry fruits, there is nothing for farmers in north India who depend on crops suited to their specific agro-climatic conditions. "This budget clearly shows the Centre's bias and its continued indifference towards the farmers of foodgrain-producing states, especially Punjab," Cheema asserted. He added that these farmers deserve respect, support, and appropriate investment, not empty slogans.
In a significant revelation, Cheema highlighted that the urea subsidy was reduced from Rs 1,26,475 crore last year to Rs 1,16,805 crore in the current budget, further straining the agricultural sector.
Defence and Security: Missed Opportunities
On the defence front, Cheema expressed his dismay, stating that the government missed a crucial opportunity to bolster India's defence capabilities. "We were hoping that the Union finance minister would announce major schemes to make India stronger on defence production and meaningfully increase the defence budget in view of last year's tensions with Pakistan, but nothing of that sort happened," he said. He notably highlighted that the finance minister mentioned the word "defence" only four times in the entire budget speech, indicating a lack of focus on this critical area.
State-Specific and Regional Neglect
Cheema raised serious concerns about the budget's implications for state-level disaster management, stating that conditions on the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) are overly restrictive and will affect Punjab's ability to effectively mitigate and manage disasters. In a pointed criticism, he noted that there was no mention of Punjab in the budget speech, adding, "They completely forgot about Punjab and Punjabis."
He further alleged that the budget is more inclined towards south and north-east India, with nothing substantial for Punjab or even north India as a whole. This regional bias, according to Cheema, undermines the principle of equitable development across the country.
Critical Sectors: Education, Health, and Infrastructure
The Punjab Finance Minister also found the budget lacking in several other key areas:
- Education: Cheema described the budget as "very uninspiring on the education front," without detailing specific allocations or initiatives.
- Health: He pointed out that the Ayushman Bharat Scheme budget remained unchanged at Rs 9,500 crore, and the Swachh Bharat Mission budget was halved to Rs 2,500 crore from Rs 5,000 crore last year.
- Infrastructure: Cheema noted a reduction in the Border Infrastructure and Management Scheme budget from Rs 5,597 crore last year to Rs 5,577 crore in the current budget.
In conclusion, Harpal Singh Cheema's comprehensive critique underscores a growing discontent among certain states regarding the Union Budget 2026-27. His remarks reflect broader concerns about regional disparities, agricultural neglect, and inadequate focus on defence and state-specific needs, setting the stage for potential political and economic debates in the coming fiscal year.
