Congress MP from Gujarat, Geniben Thakor, unleashed a blistering attack on the Union Budget 2026-27 Monday in Tharad, decrying its inadequacy for farmers, women, youth, and ordinary citizens. Reacting to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s address, she highlighted a budget adrift from public priorities.
Agriculture takes center stage in her dismay. Farmers endure without respite on core demands: fair MSP, controlled costs for fertilizers and seeds, enhanced irrigation, and income boosts. Banaskantha’s growers, among others, feel particularly let down by unfulfilled promises.
Women’s issues? Crickets. No innovative programs for jobs, startups, or financial freedom make an appearance.
Youth unemployment festers unchecked, with no actionable strategies or deadlines to unlock opportunities for the jobless millions.
Thakor didn’t spare social spending: meager outlays for schools, hospitals, village upliftment, and foundational infrastructure fall short of imperatives.
She portrayed the budget as elite-centric, heavy on capex and infra to fuel GDP, with flair for heritage tourism—think Lothal and Dholavira enhancements, city expansions, municipal tweaks—but light on mass welfare.
‘Far from embodying public hopes, this budget alienates them,’ Thakor stated. Her outspoken stance amid national discourse pressures the government to recalibrate toward inclusivity.