Congress Launches Sharp Critique of Yogi Government Over Uttar Pradesh Budget
The Congress party on Wednesday delivered a forceful condemnation of the Yogi Adityanath-led government in Uttar Pradesh, targeting the state's budgetary allocations and execution. The opposition leveled serious allegations of chronic underutilisation of funds and a pronounced lack of focus on critical sectors including agriculture, youth employment, and the development of backward regions.
Allegations of Systematic Budget Surrender and Poor Spending
UP Congress Committee president Ajay Rai launched a direct assault, claiming the state government has institutionalized "budget surrender" as an annual ritual. He alleged that nearly 30% of allocated funds are routinely returned unspent every April. Furthermore, Rai stated that even nine months into the current fiscal year, numerous government departments had failed to expend 40% of their sanctioned budgets, indicating severe implementation delays and inefficiencies.
Specific Accusations Across Key Sectors
The criticism extended to several flagship programs and initiatives. Rai asserted that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) had been significantly weakened in the state, with 6.21 crore fewer person-days of work generated compared to the previous year, impacting rural livelihoods.
In the healthcare sector, he highlighted that 60 district hospitals were designated as medical colleges without ensuring adequate basic facilities, potentially compromising medical education and services.
Questions on Economic and Infrastructure Projects
Rai raised serious doubts about the feasibility of the government's plan to establish one lakh micro-enterprises with an allocation of just Rs 1,000 crore, suggesting the funding was insufficient for meaningful impact. He also pointed to alleged irregularities in the execution of Namami Gange projects, aimed at cleaning the Ganga river.
A significant point of contention was the alleged neglect of 37 backward districts in the Purvanchal and Bundelkhand regions, which were reportedly not granted any special development package in the budget.
Congress Legislature Party Leader Echoes Concerns
Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra Mona reinforced the party's stance, branding the budget a mere "framework of numbers" that lacked clear direction and vision. She emphasized that less than 5% of the total outlay—approximately Rs 43,000 crore—was earmarked for new schemes, indicating a reliance on existing programs.
Alleged Neglect of Farmers and Employment
Mishra accused the government of ignoring the agricultural community, noting the absence of a special relief package for farmers despite prevailing challenges like inflation and fertilizer shortages. She further criticized the budget for failing to outline a concrete job creation policy or establish a minimum remuneration structure for outsourced workers, leaving many in precarious employment conditions.
Fiscal Management Under Scrutiny
Adding to the critique, Mishra expressed deep concerns over the state's rising fiscal deficit and questioned the overall accountability in financial management, suggesting that the budget numbers do not translate to tangible benefits for the common people of Uttar Pradesh.
The Congress party's comprehensive attack underscores growing political tensions and sets the stage for further debate on the state's fiscal priorities and governance efficacy as the budget implementation progresses.
