HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Feb 2: The Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday mounted a strong defence of the Union Budget, describing it as a comprehensive blueprint for a developed India by 2047, while sharply rebutting criticism from the Congress.
Addressing a press conference at the state BJP headquarters, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Bhawan, party spokespersons Devajit Mahanta and Subhash Dutta congratulated Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on presenting her ninth Union Budget, terming it an inclusive and forward-looking document that reflects the aspirations of all sections of society.
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Mahanta said the Budget is anchored on six core pillars—manufacturing, industrial growth, MSMEs, infrastructure development, national security and stability, and a resilient financial architecture—while clearly articulating the long-term vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
He pointed out that the total expenditure proposed in the Budget stands at ₹53,47,315 crore, underscoring the scale and ambition of the present government.
In contrast, he said, the final Budget of the Congress-led government in 2013–14 had an outlay of around ₹16 lakh crore.
Responding to remarks by Congress leader Ripun Bora, Mahanta said the criticism reflected either a lack of understanding of the Budget provisions or political fatigue.
He highlighted that a key feature of the Budget is income tax exemption for ordinary citizens, particularly Group C and Group D employees.
He also noted that the threshold for taxing interest income of senior citizens has been raised, with the earlier 10 per cent tax on bank deposits above ₹50,000 now applicable only beyond ₹1 lakh.
Emphasising the Centre’s focus on Assam and the North-East, Mahanta said ₹12,500 crore has been allocated for infrastructure development in the region, compared to ₹2,066 crore during the Congress period between 2009 and 2014.
He further countered claims on fiscal mismanagement, stating that while the fiscal deficit stood at 4.8 per cent in 2013–14, it has been reduced to 4.3 per cent in 2025–26 under the present government.
He expressed gratitude to the Narendra Modi-led government for institutionalising the Gross Budgetary Support mechanism since 2014, ensuring a mandatory 10 per cent allocation from every central ministry for the North-East.
Recalling what he termed “step-motherly treatment” of the region during Congress rule, Mahanta said Assam’s crude oil royalty dues were withheld earlier and only released in 2018, when ₹7,770 crore was paid by the BJP-led government.
Mahanta also claimed that India has emerged as the world’s third-largest economy and one of the fastest-growing nations, adding that Reserve Bank of India data shows Assam, under the leadership of Himanta Biswa Sarma, is among the fastest-growing states in the country.
Speaking on the occasion, BJP OBC Morcha president Subhash Dutta outlined several region-specific allocations in what he described as a people-centric Budget.
These include textile parks for Assam and Tripura; ₹350 crore for Brahmaputra river cruise tourism; ₹1,200 crore for development of the Buddhist Circuit; ₹800 crore for advanced laboratories at Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati; ₹1,500 crore for upgradation of AIIMS; ₹800 crore for cancer treatment infrastructure in Assam; ₹500 crore for tribal child nutrition; ₹1,000 crore for establishment of an IT hub in Assam; and ₹7 crore for entrepreneurship promotion.
He further said the Budget provides ₹8,200 crore for railway development in Assam and allocates ₹800 crore for construction of women’s hostels in every district, reinforcing the government’s commitment to women empowerment and inclusive growth.
