New Delhi [India], February 1 (ANI): Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday sharply criticised the Union Budget 2026-27, alleging that it fails to address key economic challenges, provides no relief to vulnerable sections of society, and does not tackle unemployment among the youth.
Kharge said the budget lacks fresh thinking and does not present concrete measures to address inflation, declining savings, or rising inequality. “The Modi government has run out of new ideas. This budget raises more questions than it answers regarding India’s significant economic, social, and political challenges. It offers nothing for the poor. They have not presented any solution, positive suggestion, or concrete steps to control inflation,” he said.
He added that weakening domestic demand continues to be ignored. “The Economic Survey indicates that trade uncertainty is a major challenge for India, yet the budget barely acknowledges this problem. Similarly, they have no plan to address the falling value of the rupee. The budget shows no intention of reviving consumer demand. The decline in domestic savings and the increasing burden of personal debt have also been ignored. There is no solution to the widespread unemployment crisis among educated youth. The Finance Commission’s recommendations require further study, but they do not appear to provide any relief to state governments facing serious financial constraints,” Kharge said.
On the issue of inequality, Kharge claimed that disparities in wealth and income have worsened. “Inequality has surpassed the levels seen during the British Raj. But the budget doesn’t even mention it. Nor have they made any provision for assistance for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections, or minorities,” he added.
Earlier today, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her ninth consecutive Union Budget, emphasising “Yuvashakti” and the principle of “three kartavyas.” The budget outlined major infrastructure initiatives, including seven high-speed rail corridors and 20 national waterways over the next five years to boost environmentally sustainable passenger and freight transport.
The proposed high-speed rail routes include Mumbai-Pune, Pune-Hyderabad, Hyderabad-Bengaluru, Hyderabad-Chennai, Chennai-Bengaluru, Delhi-Varanasi, and Varanasi-Siliguri, aiming to connect financial hubs, technology centres, manufacturing clusters, and emerging cities.
The budget also highlighted eco-tourism and nature-based travel, with plans to develop sustainable mountain trails in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Araku Valley in the Eastern Ghats, and Pudigai Malai in the Western Ghats.
While the government emphasises infrastructure and sustainable development, Kharge criticised the lack of measures directly targeting economic relief for the poor and addressing social inequalities. (ANI)
About The Author
