New Delhi: Congress leaders have strongly criticised the Union Budget 2026, calling it disconnected from the real issues facing the country. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi accused the Modi government of policy paralysis and lack of political will.
In a post on the social media platform X, Mallikarjun Kharge said the government has run out of ideas. He stated that the budget fails to address the economic, social, and political challenges confronting India. “The ‘Mission Mode’ has turned into a ‘Challenge Route’. The ‘Reform Express’ barely stops at any ‘Reform Junction’. The result: no policy vision, no political will,” Kharge commented.
Kharge highlighted that farmers, the nation’s food providers, are still waiting for meaningful welfare support or income security schemes. He pointed out that inequality has surpassed levels seen during British rule, yet the budget makes no mention of this. Additionally, no assistance has been provided to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections, or minority communities. He cautioned that while the Finance Commission’s recommendations need further study, they do not appear to offer relief to state governments facing severe financial stress, impacting federalism.
Criticising the budget further, Kharge said there is no revival strategy for manufacturing, which remains stuck at 13 percent. He questioned the absence of a clear plan for youth employment or increasing women’s participation in the workforce. He asked what results have been yielded from previous internship and skill development schemes. Issues such as declining exports, tariff risks, trade deficits, and shrinking global market shares remain unaddressed. He also pointed out the lack of any plan to tackle the falling rupee and persistent inflation. With savings decreasing, rising debt, and stagnant wages, Kharge asked why there is no idea to revive consumer demand.
He added that the budget shows no signs of restoring confidence, ignoring stagnant FDI and wages. He criticised minor changes instead of structural reforms. On infrastructure, Kharge said promises were repeated but delivery is missing, adding that cities are still not livable. He questioned when ‘smart cities’ or livable urban spaces will materialise. There were no significant announcements on social security or welfare, nor any allocation for new laws intended to replace the MGNREGA scheme. Summing up, he said the budget offers no solutions and lacks even slogans to hide its policy shortcomings.
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP, also responded sharply to the budget. He noted that youth unemployment persists, manufacturing is declining, investors are withdrawing capital, domestic savings are falling rapidly, and farmers remain in crisis. He warned of looming global shocks, yet the budget ignores all these pressing issues.
Gandhi described the budget as one that refuses to undertake course correction and remains blind to India’s real crises.
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