New Delhi: The opposition leaders in Delhi assembly on Thursday raised concerns over economic projections in the absence of a pre-Budget economic survey after Bharatiya Janata Party presented its first budget in the assembly.
During the discussion, LoP Atishi congratulated the Chief Minister on the Budget and her remarks on Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb. She said: “There is Ali in Diwali and Ram in Ramzan.” However, the leader argued that the Budget demonstrated why the ruling BJP was often called a “party of slogans,” highlighting that the financial plan was presented without an economic survey.
“The GDP growth projection for the entire country is 6.5 per cent, so I fail to understand how Delhi’s tax collection projection exceeds 20 per cent,” she said. The Opposition also cited an instance from Uttar Pradesh, where the Assembly Speaker had ruled that a Budget could not be tabled without an economic survey.
The leader further claimed that Delhi was unlikely to achieve its estimated revenue of Rs 15,000 crore in tax collections or receive Rs 7,000 crore from the Central government. He estimated the actual Budget size at Rs 78,000 crore, stating, “Let the air out of the balloon of one lakh crore.”
Additionally, concerns were raised over a Rs 500 crore reduction in allocations for unauthorised colonies compared to previous years. The Opposition questioned the government’s priorities and the feasibility of its revenue projections.
The Delhi government has defended the Budget, stating that its fiscal policies are designed to support the city’s growth and welfare initiatives.