‘Inflated, misleading, detached’: AAP, Congress criticise budget

Opposition parties criticize Delhi's budget as inflated and misleading, questioning transparency and funding for key initiatives.

The Opposition on Tuesday called the budget presented by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta as “inflated, misleading, and detached from public concerns”.

AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj said the biggest question in the minds of Delhi residents and the Opposition is how the funds allocated in the previous budget were spent. “There is no transparency or accountability, with the government not providing expenditure details,” he said.

AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha questioned the government’s claim of a “green budget”, noting that while 21% allocation has been announced, only ₹2 crore has been earmarked for real-time pollution monitoring. “There is no timeline for initiatives such as Yamuna cleaning. ₹5,100 crore was allocated last year for providing ₹2,500 to women before March 8, but the funds were never disbursed. The same allocation has been repeated this year, raising doubts about its implementation,” Mr. Jha said. 

Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav said, “Budget cuts have been made in almost every important sector – education, health, transport, social security, roads and bridges, water supply and sanitation. The government should make detailed statements about this so-called 21% green budget.”

Mr. Yadav also criticised AAP for not being present in the Assembly and holding the government accountable, as the “Opposition ideally should”. AAP boycotted the Budget Session for a second day on Tuesday, demanding the revocation of the suspension of four party MLAs.