New Delhi [India], January 27 : Ahead of the Union Budget, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari on Tuesday criticised the Centre, highlighting the serious challenges faced by the country and accused the government of having "completely eliminated constitutionally guaranteed" rights and "weakened constitutional institutions."
After attending the all-party meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh ahead of the Union Budget on February 1, Tiwari stressed that the opposition will collectively raise these concerns with full force.
Speaking to reporters, Tiwari said, "The budget is an extremely important document, as it determines the direction and condition of the country. The biggest problem today is that things that were previously hidden are now completely out in the open. This government is completely eliminating constitutionally guaranteed rights. It is weakening constitutional institutions, and people of a particular ideology are being appointed to these positions. This is a serious threat to democracy."
He further raised concerns over India's foreign policy, saying, "Today, the situation is such that no country seems to be clearly standing with us. We are unable to determine who our strategic partners are. This situation is extremely worrying for a country like India."
Reacting to the Indian rupee hovering around 91.79 today, Tiwari asserted that a fall in the rupee "weakens the country's economic health."
"The rupee has reached its historical low, approximately 92. As the rupee falls, the country's economic health weakens. The dangers that were pointed out during Manmohan Singh's time have multiplied many times over today. Along with this, US sanctions, uncertainty in international trade, and the terrible state of pollution at the domestic level, especially in Delhi, have become serious challenges for the country," Tiwari noted.
Tiwari also flagged issues in Jammu and Kashmir and other regions, stating, "Claims of normalcy do not match the ground reality in Jammu and Kashmir. The situation in Indore is a matter of concern. In the city that was touted as a model of cleanliness, people are falling ill. Gandhinagar is an area connected to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, so who is accountable?"
He emphasised unemployment as the most pressing challenge, saying, "Young people don't understand what their future holds. Employment opportunities are continuously disappearing, and manufacturing and investment are coming to a standstill. The situation is even worse in rural areas. Farmers, labourers, and young people who had left their villages in search of employment are now living in insecurity again. Even getting their names added to government schemes has become difficult."
Tiwari added that the opposition will decide on strategies regarding these issues during state-level and alliance meetings in the coming days.
"I want to make it clear this is not just opposition from the opposition parties. There is discontent within the government as well. The pressure on institutions and the misuse of agencies have wounded the democratic soul of the country," he asserted.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired an all-party meeting today ahead of the Budget session, which will begin on January 28 and run until April 2.
The first phase is scheduled from January 28 to February 13, while the second phase will run from March 9 to April 2. The Budget Session will feature 30 sittings, with the Union Budget 2026-27 being presented on February 1.
President Droupadi Murmu will formally open the session, addressing members of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.