BJP Hits Back At Kharge’s Budget Criticism, Says PM Modi Has Clear Vision For ‘Viksit Bharat’

Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday hit back at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s sharp criticism of the Union Budget 2026-27, asserting that the Narendra Modi-led government has a clear and consistent vision for a ‘Viksit Bharat’.

Responding to the Congress attack, BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo said the opposition was ignoring both fiscal discipline and prevailing global economic conditions while questioning the government’s development agenda.

“Kharge should understand that Prime Minister Modi has a clear vision for Viksit Bharat. When Congress ruled the country for so many years, the fiscal deficit often went out of control, and there was no fiscal discipline. The overall fiscal deficit used to be very high. This time, the fiscal deficit is around 4.3 per cent,” Shah Deo told IANS.

Countering allegations that the budget lacked policy direction, Shah Deo said Congress was selectively overlooking the global economic slowdown while assessing India’s economic performance.

“First of all, one needs to understand that the world is going through an economic slowdown. Almost all major economies across the globe are slowing down, and projections for the next fiscal year also indicate weak global growth. In such a situation, India is emerging as a bright spot and is in a much stronger position,” he said, adding that the Union Budget addresses all key sectors of the economy.

Kharge Accuses Government of Policy Failure

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had earlier criticised the Budget 2026-27, accusing the Union government of lacking policy vision and failing to offer solutions to challenges such as employment, manufacturing, private investment, infrastructure and social security.

He also flagged concerns over exports, citing tariff risks and a global slowdown, and alleged that the Finance Minister had offered no response to issues such as the export slump, trade deficit and India’s shrinking global share.

“Modi Govt has run out of ideas. #Budget2026 does not provide a single solution to India’s many economic, social, and political challenges,” Kharge said in a post on X, while accusing the government of avoiding structural reforms and failing to address inflation, weak consumer demand and rising debt.

He further said the budget had disappointed farmers, the middle class and marginalised sections.

Rejecting these charges, Shah Deo said the Congress was deliberately painting a negative picture despite what he described as improving economic fundamentals. He also defended the government’s emphasis on defence and national security in the budget.

“It was absolutely necessary to strengthen our defence sector. We recently saw during Operation Sindoor how the Indian Armed Forces displayed their valour and struck inside Pakistan. While we have already given Pakistan a strong response, we must remain fully prepared, as there are two or three countries along our borders with which we have had longstanding hostilities,” he said.

According to the BJP spokesperson, the Union Budget 2026-27 reflects a balance between fiscal prudence, economic growth and national security, and the party accused the Congress of misleading the public for political reasons as the debate over the budget continues to intensify.