“Band-Aid For Bullet Wounds": Rahul Gandhi On Budget
New Delhi: Leader of Opposition (Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi has sharply criticised the Union Budget 2025-26, calling it a mere “band-aid for bullet wounds” and accusing the government of lacking innovative solutions to address the country’s economic crisis.
Gandhi’s remarks come in response to the budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed as a “people’s budget” aimed at boosting investment and realising the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India). While the budget introduced several tax reliefs, including making income up to ₹12 lakh tax-free under the new regime, Gandhi dismissed it as insufficient to tackle pressing economic challenges.
Speaking on the budget, Rahul Gandhi stated, “Amid global uncertainty, solving our economic crisis demanded a paradigm shift. But this government is bankrupt of ideas.” He accused the BJP-led government of failing to address core issues such as unemployment, inflation, and slowing economic growth.
Gandhi’s sharp critique comes at a time when India’s GDP growth has slowed to 6.4%, the lowest in four years. He argued that the government’s policies were merely cosmetic, attempting to mask deeper economic distress with short-term populist measures.
The Union Budget, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, outlined several major reforms, particularly in taxation, financial regulations, power, urban development, and agriculture. Key highlights include tax relief under the new regime, where individuals earning up to ₹12 lakh will pay no income tax, effectively extending to ₹12.75 lakh with the standard deduction. The revised tax slabs include ₹4-8 lakh taxed at 5%, ₹8-12 lakh at 10%, ₹12-16 lakh at 15%, ₹16-20 lakh at 20%, ₹20-24 lakh at 25%, and income above ₹24 lakh at 30%. Other major announcements included the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana to support 100 districts with low agricultural productivity and multiple development projects for Bihar, such as the establishment of a Makhana Board, expansion of Patna airport, and the West Kosi canal project.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the budget, stating it prioritises savings and investment while strengthening India’s middle class. He highlighted tax cuts as a major benefit for the working population and reiterated that the budget aligns with the long-term goal of making India a developed economy. “In this budget, income up to ₹12 lakh per annum has been made tax-free. It will hugely benefit our middle class and offer an opportunity to those entering the workforce,” Modi said. The Finance Minister also announced a new Direct Tax Code aimed at simplifying compliance for individual taxpayers, set to be introduced next week.
Despite the government’s optimism, critics, including the Opposition, have raised concerns about the budget’s effectiveness. Economists argue that while tax relief will benefit the middle class, it does little to address structural economic issues such as job creation and inflation.
Gandhi further accused the government of ignoring India’s growing inequality, stating that economic policies continue to favour the wealthy while offering minimal relief to marginalised communities. “The government is trying to cover up economic wounds with a band-aid, but real solutions require deep structural changes,” he said, urging for more investment in employment generation, education, and healthcare.
