Gujarat’s Agriculture Minister, Jitu Vaghani, hailed the state’s Rs 4.08 crore budget for 2026-27 as a significant milestone towards achieving the vision of ‘Developed Gujarat @ 2047.’ He emphasized the contrast between the current financial management and past Congress-era budgets, criticizing the lack of development focus in the latter. Minister Vaghani highlighted Gujarat’s strong fiscal performance, positioning it in the top ‘Achiever’ category for financial management according to NITI Aayog’s ‘Fiscal Health Index-2025.’
The minister underscored Gujarat’s low debt burden, with the state’s public debt standing at 18.2% of GSDP, well below the legal limit of 27%. He explained the necessity of government borrowing for essential infrastructure projects like highways, bridges, and hospitals, emphasizing the productive nature of such investments. Comparing budget growth over the years, he noted a significant increase from Rs 36,000 crore in 2001-02 to Rs 4,08,053 crore currently, reflecting substantial progress.
Minister Vaghani also criticized the Congress government’s handling of national security, citing instances like the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. He highlighted delays in infrastructure projects during Congress rule, including the Narmada project, and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiatives for the welfare of the poor, youth, farmers, and women. The minister commended the budget as a blueprint for a prosperous future and lauded the efforts of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Finance Minister Kanu Desai, and their team for presenting a comprehensive budget.
