New Delhi: Opposition parties on Sunday criticised the Union Budget 2026-27, with the Congress describing Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s speech as underwhelming and unclear on spending priorities.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the 90-minute presentation failed to provide a transparent picture of allocations for major schemes and programmes.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi said she had low expectations from the Modi government’s budget.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed disappointment over the lack of focus on Kerala, noting that while sectors such as fisheries, cashew and coconut were mentioned, the state was not named.
“As a Kerala MP, I don’t see anything to be pleased about so far. I will wait to go through the full details before making a final assessment,” Tharoor told PTI.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the government of crafting budgets for a privileged few, questioning whether it had delivered on its manifesto promises.
“This budget appears to serve only five per cent of the population. What can people expect from a government that inspires no hope?” he said.
His wife and SP MP Dimple Yadav said the budget offered little for farmers and women, adding that the technical language used in the speech was difficult for ordinary citizens to understand.
Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee refrained from immediate criticism, saying he would respond after reviewing the budget in detail.
Earlier, Sitharaman, while presenting her ninth consecutive budget, said the government was focused on sustaining economic growth, meeting public aspirations and prioritising the poor and underprivileged. She added that reforms, not rhetoric, would guide India’s journey toward becoming a developed nation.
