Congress National General Secretary Sachin Pilot criticized the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, calling it “directionless, confusing, and deeply disappointing for the common man.” Pilot highlighted the government’s capital expenditure savings of nearly Rs 1 lakh crore annually over the past three years, emphasizing that increased allocations on paper cannot mask this trend. He pointed out the Central government’s failure to spend around Rs 33,000 crore on crucial public benefit schemes like Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Gramin, indicating a lack of focus on rural welfare.
Pilot also noted that approximately Rs 50,000 crore allocated for the Jal Jeevan Mission remained unutilized due to delays in fund transfers to states. He criticized the government for maintaining states’ share in central taxes at 41 percent while not addressing the burden of states funding nearly 40 percent of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Pilot urged for an increase in states’ share to 45 percent to alleviate the financial strain.
Describing the budget as extremely disappointing for Rajasthan, Pilot highlighted the absence of allocations for key projects like the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project and the exclusion of the state from proposed high-speed rail corridors. He criticized the lack of provisions for approved railway lines and the absence of relief measures for farmers. Pilot demanded transparency from the BJP-led state government on the issue of unemployment, warning that the budget could worsen joblessness and force educated youth into low-skilled roles.
