Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday dismissed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the Union Budget 2026 as “uninformed” and challenged him to substantiate his claims with specific evidence. She urged Gandhi to highlight exact paragraphs in the Budget that reflect gaps in areas like unemployment, rural distress, and manufacturing slowdown, accusations he had levelled without providing details.

In an interview with PTI Videos, Sitharaman said that the allegations “have absolutely no basis” and accused the Congress leader of making sweeping claims without reference to the Budget text. She emphasized that the government had prioritised youth skilling, entrepreneurship, and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, in its allocations.

The Finance Minister highlighted that the Budget blends traditional support for agriculture and rural jobs with initiatives aimed at preparing India’s youth for future labour market needs. She stressed that provisions for training, entrepreneurship development, and technology adoption had been carefully included to promote economic growth.

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Responding to Gandhi’s renewed criticism following the US announcement of a tariff reduction, Sitharaman declined to comment directly, noting that the Commerce Minister would address the matter in Parliament. She reiterated her challenge for evidence, asserting that without specific references, Gandhi’s claims lack credibility.

Sitharaman also underlined the government’s focus on skill development, technology-driven employment, and AI-related initiatives as central pillars of the Budget. She insisted that these efforts were designed to ensure that India’s workforce is equipped to meet emerging opportunities and challenges in the coming fiscal year.

The exchange reflects the growing political debate over the Union Budget, with opposition leaders raising questions about economic inclusivity and government priorities, while the ruling party defends the allocations as forward-looking and comprehensive.

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