Budget highlights Raj debt cuts, reduced central support: Jully

Jaipur: Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully attacked the Rajasthan Budget 2026-27 during the debate in the Assembly Tuesday, calling it a "document of debt, cuts and surrender before the Centre." Jully claimed that the current BJP govt was set to raise loans worth over Rs 2.2 lakh crore in the coming three years, compared with around Rs 2.3 lakh crore borrowed by the previous Congress govt over five years despite the Covid period. Jully alleged the govt had sharply reduced development spending to project a lower fiscal deficit. Citing capital outlay figures, he said the 2025-26 allocation was cut from Rs 53,686 crore in the Budget estimates to Rs 38,288 crore in revised estimates, a 28% reduction, which Jully said would hit infrastructure and growth. He also claimed the state's revenue performance had weakened, alleging own tax collections were 18% below Budget estimates, which he said reflected poor fiscal planning. Questioning the outcomes of chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma's visits to Delhi, Jully said central support to Rajasthan was shrinking despite the "double engine" govt. He alleged the Centre's interest-free loan to the state was reduced from Rs 15,000 crore to Rs 9,500 crore, a 37% cut, and that Rajasthan's share in central taxes fell short by Rs 2,000 crore against a target of Rs 85,716 crore. Jully further alleged that under the 16th Finance Commission, Rajasthan's share declined from over 6% to around 5.9%, leading to an annual loss of about Rs 1,700 crore. Calling the Budget anti-women and anti-youth, Jully said earlier promises had been diluted or dropped. He alleged teacher recruitment that promised a 50% quota for women was capped at 30%, the Udaan scheme for sanitary napkins had been discontinued, and there was no mention of new govt jobs. He also claimed allocations for education and health fell from 18.2% to 17.1% and from 8.4% to 8.1%, respectively. Raising social justice concerns, Jully accused the govt of delaying sanitation worker recruitment and denying opportunities to the Valmiki community, demanding special provisions to ensure priority in appointments. He urged legislators to pass a unanimous Assembly resolution against what he termed injustice by the Finance Commission and sought restoration of Rajasthan's share for the welfare of the poor, farmers and youth.