Atishi accuses Delhi Government of curtailing Budget debate, demands extended discussion

Delhi LoP Atishi accuses BJP of hiding economic details in Budget 2025-26 discussions, calls for extended debate.

Delhi Assembly Leader of Opposition (LoP) Atishi has accused the ruling BJP of deliberately curtailing discussions on the Annual Budget 2025-26 and may be trying to hide crucial economic details.

In a letter to Speaker Vijender Gupta, Ms. Atishi expressed outrage over the assembly's 'List of Business' for the day, which allocates barely an hour for Budget discussions — a move she termed "deeply worrying" and an attempt to avoid scrutiny.

Responding to Ms. Atishi's letter, Mr. Gupta said her claim that only one hour was set aside for the Budget discussion was "incorrect."

He said that the Business Advisory Committee of the Assembly, which includes AAP MLAs, had decided that the budget discussion would take place over two days, on March 26 and 27.

Ms. Atishi also pointed out that the Government had failed to present the Economic Survey — a standard parliamentary practice — before tabling the Budget, and wondered whether this was an attempt to withhold vital economic data from the public.

"It almost seems that the Government wants to avoid a detailed discussion on the Budget. Is this Budget based on fictitious revenue projections and economic trends? Is that why the Economic Survey wasn't presented?" she wrote in her letter.

The Aam Aadmi Party leader said she was shocked to see the day's 'List of Business,' which revealed that only one hour had been set aside for the budget discussion, with the remaining time packed with other agenda items, including a CAG report, discussions on water shortages and drainage issues, and committee reports.