West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Lambasts Union Budget as 'Humpty Dumpty' Farce
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a scathing attack on the Union Budget 2026-27 on Sunday, dismissing it as a "Humpty Dumpty Budget" filled with "jugglery of words" and "sound and fury" that allegedly conceals the neglect of Bengal. Speaking to reporters at Kolkata airport before departing for New Delhi, Banerjee asserted that the state received nothing substantial from the financial plan, which she claimed reflects "incompetence and is a garbage of lies."
Budget Fails Common People and Bengal, Says CM
Banerjee highlighted multiple areas where she believes the Budget falls short, emphasizing that it offers nothing for the common man or Bengal. "Funds and subsidies for education have declined. There is a decline in subsidies for social security and fertilisers. The economy is totally derailed," she stated. The CM also pointed out that share markets tanked after the Budget, indicating a lack of confidence in the government's economic policies.
Historical Projects Ignored and Funds Withheld
Recalling her tenure as Railway Minister, Banerjee noted that projects like the freight corridor from Dankuni, mentioned in the Budget, were originally proposed by her in the 2009 Railway Budget. "It has been pending for more than 15 years. Nothing happened after I left the rail ministry. Be it the anti-collision device or the freight corridors, I cleared all the projects," she lamented. She further accused the central government of withholding over Rs 2 lakh crore in developmental funds from Bengal while collecting taxes through GST, claiming they lack the "moral authority to run the govt."
Budget Labeled Anti-Poor and Directionless
In a vehement critique, Banerjee described the Budget as "directionless, visionless, missionless and actionless." She added that it is "anti-poor, anti-youth, anti-women and anti-farmer" as well as "anti-SC, -ST and -OBC." According to her, the central government has not allocated a single penny to Bengal, exacerbating the state's financial struggles.
Trinamool Leaders Echo Criticism
Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, speaking in the Parliament Complex, suggested that the BJP deliberately withheld funds from Bengal because they anticipate losing the state "lock, stock and barrel." He noted that the Union finance minister did not mention Bengal in her 5,100-second speech, and criticized the branding of ten crore Bengalis as Bangladeshis by top central leaders. "For the people of Bengal — workers, farmers, fishermen and the youth — there is nothing in this Budget," he asserted.
Declining Subsidies and Allocations Highlighted
Amit Mitra, principal chief advisor to the CM, provided data to support the criticism, pointing out a reduction in education spending from 3.8% of total expenditure in 2015-16 to 2.6% in this Budget. "The central govt doesn't care about education," he said. Similarly, he highlighted a drop in fertiliser subsidy from 4% to 3.2%, indicating "the central govt is least concerned about farmers." Mitra also noted that Budget allocations for the welfare of STs, SCs, OBCs, and minorities have decreased, further underscoring the alleged neglect of marginalized communities.
