Bhubaneswar, February 1: Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Bhakta Charan Das strongly criticized the Union Budget for 2026–27, calling it ‘anti-people’ and ‘directionless.’ He accused the budget, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, of benefiting only a few industrialists while neglecting farmers, women, youth, the poor, and the middle class.

Das claimed that crucial sectors like education, healthcare, and employment were ignored, while incentives for capitalists were prioritized. He also raised concerns over the growing national debt, stating that the country has borrowed over Rs 200 lakh crore under the current government, compared to Rs 55 lakh crore at the end of the UPA era. He called the mounting debt a “burden on future generations.”

In Odisha, Das criticized the lack of attention to the state's needs, particularly in infrastructure projects. He argued that these initiatives mainly serve industrial interests, such as coal transport, instead of benefiting local communities. He concluded that the budget, in his view, was “against public interest” and rated it negatively.