New Delhi [India], January 31 : Ahead of the Union Budget 2026, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday criticised the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, asserting that its own "legacy" has left the economy in an "unprecedented mess," and questioned whether the upcoming budget would deliver concrete solutions.
In a post on X, Kharge said the government could no longer attribute current economic challenges to the legacy of previous administrations.
https://x.com/kharge/status/2017581529359389135?s=20
"In this UnionBudget, the Modi Government cannot hide behind the excuse of 'legacy'. Their own legacy has pushed the economy into an unprecedented mess. Will this Budget offer real solutions to the multiple economic indicators that are now in free fall?" he said.
Referring to the Economic Survey and government data, the Congress chief said the Budget would be the government's 12th in 12 years and challenged it to move beyond what he called "tired slogans".
Meanwhile, Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel also criticised the Centre ahead of the Budget presentation.
Speaking in Delhi, Baghel told ANI that the Budget was being presented on a Sunday, which is both a holiday and Ravidas Jayanti, and questioned what people could expect from it.
"The budget is being presented tomorrow, Sunday, which is both a holiday and Ravidas Jayanti. What can we expect? There is widespread unemployment and inflation, and farmers are not receiving fair prices for their crops. MGNREGA, which was the only hope for labourers, has been removed, and GST has already caused difficulties for people," he said.
The Union Budget 2026-27 is set to be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday. This year, the Budget presentation falls on a weekend. FM Sitharaman is set to present a record ninth consecutive Union Budget on February 1, marking a significant milestone in India's parliamentary and economic history.
Centre earlier this week released the 2025-26 economic survey, noting that India's economic growth remains resilient, with strong domestic demand as the main anchor, even as the global environment remains fragile.
Taking an optimistic view of the economy, the Economic Survey estimated India's potential growth at around 7 per cent. It also projected that India's GDP growth in FY27 is likely to remain in the range of 6.8 per cent to 7.2 per cent, reflecting the economy's medium-term strength supported by reforms and macroeconomic stability.
The Survey noted that while global economic conditions remain uncertain and fragile, India's overall outlook continues to be positive. It highlighted that India's growth is holding up better than expected relative to many other economies, although risks remain elevated amid global uncertainties.