Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann criticizes Union Budget 2026, alleges neglect of farmers, youth, and state development; calls it biased against Punjab.
The Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has strongly criticized the Union Budget 2026, calling it disappointing for the state. CM Mann said the budget fails to guarantee Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers, does not provide job security for youth, and lacks concrete measures to boost the state’s economic development.
AAP Slams the Budget
Bhagwant Mann asserted that the Union Budget once again falls short of Punjab’s expectations. He stated that the central government has ignored the state’s economic priorities, resulting in unfair treatment towards Punjab and its people. He highlighted that the budget provides no relief to industries or reforms in the tax system, leaving farmers, youth, and ordinary citizens with little support.
Neglect of Farmers
Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian condemned the budget, stating that despite Punjab being the country’s food basket, the farmers of the state have been left empty-handed. He pointed out that the budget provides no clear roadmap for MSP beyond wheat and paddy, showing a lack of seriousness by the central government to secure farmers’ income.
Allegations of Bias by BJP
Minister Aman Arora criticized the budget for treating Punjab like a “stepmother.” He said that despite Punjab’s historical contributions—from independence to feeding the nation—the state has been neglected in terms of major projects and funding. He added that the promises made by the BJP before coming to power have not been fulfilled, leaving the people disappointed.
Budget Discrimination Highlighted
AAP spokesperson Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal described the Union Budget as open discrimination against Punjab. He emphasized that the central government has failed to provide support for farmers, youth, or developmental projects. MSP guarantees are missing, job security for youth is absent, and no approval has been given for major projects in the state.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema’s Critique
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated that the Union Budget 2026 does not increase the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund or strengthen mandi infrastructure for farmers in Punjab and Haryana. He added that states will now have to rely on their own funds for development. Although the budget mentions high-value crops, Punjab has been completely ignored.
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Cheema also pointed out that the urea subsidy has been reduced from ₹1,26,475 crore last year to ₹1,16,805 crore this year. He noted that the budget provides no relief for the common man at a time when inflation is eating into savings and incomes are stagnant.
Cut in PM Vishwakarma Scheme
The Finance Minister highlighted that the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, which aims to provide holistic support and skill training to traditional artisans, has seen its budget cut from ₹5,100 crore to ₹3,861 crore. Cheema questioned how the government claims this budget is aimed at youth empowerment and heritage industry development while reducing allocations for such key schemes.
States Ignored, Budget Disappointing
Cheema criticized the 16th Finance Commission, stating that vertical devolution remains at 41% with no increase despite fiscal pressures on states. Horizontal devolution for Punjab increased slightly from 1.807% to 1.996%, but no revenue deficit grants have been provided, unlike the 15th Finance Commission. He also noted that restrictive SDRF conditions will affect the state’s disaster management capacity.
Education and Health Funding Concerns
On education, Cheema said the budget shows only an 8% increase compared to last year, which is less than 10%. The PM schemes continue with the same allocation of ₹7,500 crore. Health allocations remain unchanged for Ayushman Bharat at ₹9,500 crore, while Swachh Bharat Mission funding has been halved from ₹5,000 crore to ₹2,500 crore. Under MGNREGA, the budget increased from ₹88,000 crore to ₹95,692 crore.
Cheema concluded that the Union Budget 2026 demonstrates bias against Punjab and neglects farmers, youth, industries, and the common man, failing to address the state’s economic and developmental needs.
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