NEW DELHI: Atishi, leader of opposition in Delhi assembly, criticised the BJP government’s budget for the capital, calling it “hawa hawai”. The AAP leader alleged the ruling BJP slashed allocation to key sectors like education and health to “weaken” the public services.
She also lashed out at the ruling rival for not presenting the Economic Survey ahead of the budget, which she claimed would have busted the “hollow budget”.
“If the government truly had Rs one lakh crore in revenue, they wouldn’t have hesitated to present the Economic Survey in the Assembly. They hid it because the numbers would expose the truth behind this hollow budget.”
Atishi claimed that the education budget fell below 20 per cent for the first time in 10 years, adding that the move was to historic government schools.
“For the first time in 10 years, the education budget has fallen below 20 per cent, showing their agenda to destroy government schools. Health spending has also been cut to 13 per cent – the lowest in a decade – to dismantle free treatment services for the poor,” she said.
Atishi further criticised the reduced Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) budget, pointing out that the Rs 8423 crore allocation from 2024-25 has been slashed to Rs 6897 crore this year, calling it an attempt to “cripple the city’s cleaning system.”
“Rekha Gupta ji spent 1.5 hours of her two-hour speech just attacking AAP. The elections are over – it’s time to work for Delhi, not to abuse us,” adding, “This budget makes one thing clear: less work, more slogans. Five years of just insults – that’s the BJP’s real agenda,” Atishi was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Calling the budget a “jumla,” Atishi dared the BJP to release the Economic Survey and present the real figures on revenue and tax collections to prove the budget’s credibility.
“This isn’t a budget – it’s a smokescreen to hide (PM Narendra) Modi ji’s false guarantees,” the AAP leader said.
Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday presented Rs 1 lakh crore FY26 Budget with ten focus areas, including Yamuna cleaning, economic empowerment of women, infrastructure, water, and connectivity, asserting that it is a roadmap for making the national capital self-reliant.
Previously, Atishi had presented the budget for the financial year 2024-25 with an outlay of Rs 76,000 crore.
