The 2026-27 Union Budget has been slammed by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor as a missed opportunity, prioritizing headlines over tangible outcomes and fiscal prudence over fairness. In a scathing critique, Tharoor likened the budget to rearranging the airbags in a crashing car while ignoring the underlying economic issues. He accused the government of neglecting unemployment, rising living costs, and widening inequality, stating that it offers little to address the struggles of the common man. Tharoor highlighted the underutilization of funds, with only 41% of the budgeted amount spent in the first nine months, and criticized the government's headline-chasing approach to governance. He also pointed out the shift in the tax burden from corporations to individuals, warning that this could undermine India's manufacturing ambitions. In the agricultural sector, Tharoor raised concerns about the allocation of just 3% of the budget to support over 60% of the population, and criticized the failure of schemes like PM Fasal Bima Yojana to provide adequate compensation to farmers. He also drew attention to the declining allocations for agricultural research and education, and the crisis facing pepper growers in Kerala. On employment, Tharoor highlighted the rising urban unemployment rate and criticized the budget's silence on gig workers' welfare. He also raised concerns over the replacement of MGNREGA with the new Viksit Bharat Gram Rozgar Act, arguing that it dilutes the legal right to work and risks exclusion through excessive reliance on digital systems. Tharoor accused the government of neglecting Kerala across sectors, from railways and ports to healthcare and higher education. He also criticized the regional imbalance in the announcement of new NIPER institutes and the inadequate R&D spending. In terms of inequality, Tharoor pointed out the squeeze on the middle class due to rising EMIs, credit card debt, and a growing tax burden, while relief measures like housing support were absent from the budget. He questioned the government's infrastructure-led growth strategy, arguing that it has failed to generate sufficient jobs and crowd in private investment. Lastly, Tharoor raised concerns over the interim trade agreement with the United States, calling it a pre-committed purchase agreement rather than a free trade agreement, and questioned the implications for Parliament.
