New Delhi,February 1: Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Sunday declined to comment on the Union Budget 2026-27, stating that he would speak on Monday from Parliament's platform.
Earlier in the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her ninth consecutive budget, where she created history to become first Finance Minister in India to deliver nine consecutive budgets, surpassing her own record.
"I will speak tomorrow, using the platform provided by Parliament," Rahul Gandhi told reporters.
The Congress party however described the budget as lacklustre.
"While the documents need to be studied in detail, it is clear after 90 mins that Budget 2026/27 falls woefully short of the hype that was generated about it. It was totally lacklustre. The speech was also non-transparent since it gave no idea whatsoever of budgetary allocations for key programmes and schemes," said Congress MP Jairam Ramesh.
Earlier, speaking in the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman asserted that the "reform express" of the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government is well on its way and will continue to maintain momentum to fulfil its duties.
Highlighting the economic performance of the NDA government, Sitharaman said India's economic trajectory since 2014 has been marked by stability, fiscal discipline and sustained growth.
"The reform express is well on its way and will maintain its momentum to help us fulfill our duties. Since we assumed office 12 years ago, the country's economic trajectory has been marked by stability, fiscal discipline, sustained growth and moderate inflation. This is the result of conscious choices we have made even in times of uncertainty and disruptions," said Sitharaman.
She asserted that, by keeping Aatmanirbharta as a guiding principle, the government has strengthened domestic manufacturing capacity, ensured energy security, and reduced critical import dependencies. She added that these measures have delivered a high growth rate of around 7 per cent and enabled substantial strides in poverty reduction and improvements in people's lives.
"Keeping Aatmanirbharta as a lodestar, we have built domestic manufacturing capacity, energy security and reduced critical import dependencies. Simultaneously, we have ensured that citizens benefit from every Government action, undertaking reforms to support employment generation, agricultural productivity, household purchasing power, and universal services. These measures have delivered a high growth rate of around 7% and helped us make substantial strides in poverty reduction and improvement in the lives of our people," said Sitharaman.
She further stated that the NDA government has decisively and consistently chosen action over ambivalence and has pursued far-reaching structural reforms, fiscal prudence, and monetary stability, while maintaining a strong focus on public investment.
"Our government has decisively and consistently chosen action over ambivalence, and we have pursued far-reaching structural reforms, fiscal prudence and monetary stability, while maintaining a strong thrust on public investment," Sitharaman added.
Referring to global challenges, Sitharaman said India is facing an external environment in which trade and multilateralism are under strain. She emphasised that India will continue to take confident steps towards Viksit Bharat by balancing ambition with inclusion.
"Today, we face an external environment in which trade and multilateralism are imperilled. And access to resources and supply chains is disrupted. New technologies are transforming production systems while sharply increasing demand for water, energy and critical minerals. India will continue to take confident steps towards Vikasit Bharat by balancing ambition with inclusion," said Sitharaman.
