Union Budget 2026: Rahul Gandhi defers comment; Mamata Banerjee says nothing for WB

Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Union Budget 2026–27, calling it “blind to India’s real crises” and accusing the government of ignoring unemployment, rural distress and slowing manufacturing.

In a post on X after the Budget presentation, Gandhi said the country’s pressing challenges had been glossed over. “Youth without jobs. Falling manufacturing. Investors are pulling out capital. Household savings are plummeting.

Farmers in distress. Looming global shocks — all ignored,” he wrote, adding that the Budget showed a refusal to course-correct at a critical time for the economy.

The Congress leader’s remarks came hours after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her ninth consecutive Budget in Parliament. While the government projected the exercise as a reform-driven roadmap amid global uncertainties, the Opposition flagged concerns over growth, employment, and agrarian stress.

In her speech, Sitharaman announced a higher capital expenditure target of ₹12.2 lakh crore for FY27, up from ₹11.2 lakh crore in the current fiscal, alongside a slew of infrastructure measures aimed at boosting economic activity, including in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. The Budget was framed against the backdrop of trade frictions, US tariff pressures and a slowdown in exports.

Speaking briefly to reporters outside Parliament after Sitharaman concluded her Budget speech, Gandhi said, “I will speak tomorrow, using the platform provided by Parliament.”

He then left the premises without further comment. Gandhi was accompanied by his sister, Priyanka Gandhi, the Congress MP from Wayanad, who also did not address the media.

Sitharaman presented her ninth consecutive Union Budget, with the government pitching it as a reform-oriented roadmap and a vision document for India’s growth trajectory in the second quarter of the 21st century.

The Budget focused on themes such as ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, infrastructure expansion, manufacturing push, and fiscal consolidation. However, one of the most closely watched announcements—changes to personal income tax slabs—did not materialise, with rates remaining unchanged for now.

While Rahul Gandhi chose to reserve his remarks for Parliament, other Opposition leaders mounted a sharp attack on the Budget within hours of its presentation.

Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, described the Budget as “completely insipid,” arguing that it failed to live up to the expectations created ahead of the speech.

In a post on X, Ramesh said the Budget lacked transparency and did not clearly spell out allocations for major flagship programmes and schemes.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor echoed similar concerns, saying the speech offered “very few details” beyond a handful of broad headlines. He also flagged the absence of clarity on proposed institutions, including the long-discussed All India Institute of Ayurveda.

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The sharpest criticism came from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who said the Union Budget 2026 had “nothing” for her state. The Trinamool Congress supremo termed the Budget “anti-women, anti-farmer, anti-education,” and accused the Centre of presenting a “directionless” and “visionless” document that offered little relief to the common man.

Political reactions to the Budget have gained added significance as states such as West Bengal and Kerala head towards Assembly elections later this year. With the Opposition sharpening its attack and the government defending its fiscal choices, the Budget debate is expected to intensify when Parliament reconvenes on Monday.