Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Feb 1: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Union Budget 2026-27, accusing the Narendra Modi-led government of lacking policy vision and failing to address India’s pressing economic and social challenges.
Kharge said the Budget offered no credible roadmap to tackle unemployment, weak manufacturing, slowing private investment, infrastructure gaps or social security concerns. He also flagged risks to exports and trade, alleging that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had ignored the slowdown in exports, tariff-related threats, the widening trade deficit and India’s shrinking share in global markets.
“The government has completely run out of ideas. This Budget does not offer a single solution to India’s economic, social or political problems,” Kharge said in a post on X, criticising the absence of meaningful structural reforms.
He accused the Centre of lacking the political will to confront inflation, falling consumer demand and rising debt. Taking a swipe at the government’s slogans, Kharge remarked that while the “Reform Express” is often mentioned, it “rarely stops at any reform station”.
The Congress chief said the Budget was a letdown for farmers, the middle class and marginalised communities. He questioned the government’s silence on the weakening rupee, stagnating foreign direct investment and waning investor confidence. “Why only cosmetic changes? Where are the structural reforms?” he asked.
Kharge also criticised the Budget for ignoring inequality, claiming it has reached levels worse than during the British era. He said there was no meaningful support for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections or minority communities.
Raising concerns over federalism, he said states facing severe financial stress had been left without relief. “The spirit of cooperative federalism has been sacrificed,” he alleged, adding that the Finance Commission’s recommendations appeared inadequate for struggling states.
He further attacked the government’s flagship ‘Make in India’ programme, saying the Budget failed to revive manufacturing, which remains stuck at around 13 per cent of GDP. He also flagged the lack of focus on job creation, skilling and women’s participation in the workforce, questioning the outcomes of earlier skill and internship schemes.
Highlighting the struggles of the poor and middle class, Kharge said the Budget provided no relief from inflation, rising household debt or stagnant wages. “There is no plan to revive consumer demand,” he said.
On social security, the Congress president said the Budget was virtually silent. “There is not a single substantial announcement on welfare or social security. Even the law that replaced MGNREGA finds no mention. Why this neglect?” he asked.