Congress MP Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday, questioning the Union Budget preparation process and highlighting the lack of representation from marginalized communities in decision-making. Speaking at a rally in Delhi ahead of the assembly elections, Gandhi alleged that the budget-drafting process excluded Dalits, tribals, backward classes, and minorities from key decisions.
As the Finance Minister prepares to present the 2025 Union Budget on February 1, Gandhi expressed concern that a small group of individuals dominates the process. He pointed out that the budget preparation excluded marginalized groups from the crucial decision-making moments. “Tomorrow, the Finance Minister will walk into Parliament with a briefcase, and you will see a photograph. But there won’t be a single Dalit, tribal, backward class person, or minority in that photo,” said Gandhi.
He went on to argue that out of the 90 officers responsible for drafting the budget, only three were from Other Backward Classes (OBCs), despite OBCs making up 50% of the population. Gandhi further criticized the skewed allocation process, claiming that if the budget were to distribute 100 rupees, the officers preparing it would allocate only 5 rupees to OBC communities due to their minimal representation. His comments aimed to highlight what he sees as an inherent bias against these groups in the government’s economic planning.
This criticism came a day before Sitharaman was scheduled to present the Union Budget for 2025-26, raising questions about the inclusivity of the process. Gandhi’s remarks focused on the absence of voices from marginalized communities in the creation of policies that could affect their lives the most.
Gandhi also turned his attention to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of ignoring minorities within his leadership. He claimed that Kejriwal’s team lacked representation from Dalits, tribals, backward classes, or minorities, further accusing the AAP of being a party that primarily represents a small, elite group. “There are 9 people in Kejriwal’s team, but none of them belong to Dalit, Adivasi, backward class, or minority communities. This is a party of just 2-3 percent,” Gandhi stated.
The Congress leader also criticized Kejriwal’s failure to address the persistent pollution in the Yamuna River, despite the promises made by the Delhi Chief Minister years ago. Gandhi reminded the audience of Kejriwal’s earlier claim that he would drink water from the Yamuna and take a dip in it. “Kejriwal is walking around with a water bottle and blaming the Haryana government for the pollution, but the responsibility lies with him. Our fight is based on ideology, not opportunism,” Gandhi said, highlighting the AAP’s inability to deliver on key promises.
In addition to attacking Kejriwal’s leadership, Gandhi lashed out at the AAP government for allegedly destroying the infrastructure developed under the tenure of former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. “Kejriwal came in a WagonR and directly went to the parking lot of Sheesh Mahal. The infrastructure that Sheila Ji built—roads, bridges, flyovers, and development work—has been destroyed under his government,” Gandhi added, accusing Kejriwal of failing to maintain and improve upon the work that had been done.
As the political landscape heats up ahead of Delhi’s assembly elections, Gandhi’s comments have set the stage for a battle over representation, governance, and the future direction of both the Congress and AAP.
