Rahul Gandhi lists 6 priorities 'ignored' in Union Budget 2026
What's the story
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi has slammed Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for not addressing key issues such as unemployment and farmer distress in the Union Budget 2026-27. He said that the budget "refuses course correction" and is blind to India's real crises. In a post on X, he listed six points that were ignored. "Youth without jobs. Falling manufacturing. Investors pulling out capital. Household savings plummeting. Farmers in distress. Looming global shocks - all ignored," he wrote.
Budget critique
Jairam Ramesh slams budget for lack of transparency
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also slammed the budget for its lack of transparency in key program allocations. He said that despite a lengthy speech, it failed to provide a clear picture of major scheme funding. "While the documents need to be studied in detail, it is clear that Budget 2026-27 falls woefully short of the hype generated around it," he wrote on X.
Regional concerns
Sitharaman's speech lacked mention of Kerala: Tharoor
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also expressed disappointment over the lack of mention of Kerala in Sitharaman's speech. He said while there were mentions of fisheries and cashew and coconut subheadings, Kerala wasn't named enough. "As a Kerala MP, I must say I have nothing to be happy about in this budget," Tharoor told news agency PTI.
Elite focus
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav slams government
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav slammed the government for designing budgets for a small group. He asked if the government lived up to its manifesto promises. "This budget is made for five percent of the people. Did the government live up to the promises it made in its manifesto?" he said. His wife and Lok Sabha MP Dimple Yadav also criticized the budget, saying it lacked provisions for farmers and women's safety.