The BJP-led Government’s so-called ₹1 lakh crore budget has been exposed as a mere political stunt—by its own officials. The Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Delhi Assembly, Atishi, citing an order from the Finance Department, pointed out that no department is allowed to spend more than 5% of its total budget in April.
The LoP reasoned that with this restriction, the government can only use ₹5,000 crore in the first month and, at this rate, will be able to spend just ₹60,000 crore for the entire year—far short of the ₹1 lakh crore it promised. Atishi argued that when there’s no real money, there can be no real spending, adding that the BJP government’s own directive has exposed its grand budget as nothing more than a ‘jumla.’
During a press conference, Delhi Assembly LoP Atishi criticised the BJP-led Delhi government’s budget, calling it the most deceptive budget in Delhi Assembly’s history. She stated, “The BJP Government in Delhi presented a budget of ₹1 lakh crore, with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who also holds the Finance portfolio, repeatedly claiming that it is a historic budget because of its size. However, this budget is not historic due to its scale but because it is the most dishonest budget ever presented in the Assembly.”
The Delhi Assembly LoP argued that the Delhi government neither has nor can generate ₹1 lakh crore in revenue. Atishi explained, “I explained in the budget session that the Delhi Government can not generate ₹1 lakh crore. If we examine tax figures, the budgeted estimates are inflated. At least ₹5,000 crore less tax will be collected, ₹10,000 crore less loan will be secured, and the Centre has not allocated a single rupee to Delhi in its budget. My estimates suggested that the real size of Delhi’s budget might be closer to ₹78,000 crore.”
Atishi further pointed to official records contradicting the government’s claims. She stated, “Documents from Delhi’s Finance Department confirm that the government doesn’t even have ₹78,000 crore, let alone ₹1 lakh crore. In reality, the government only has ₹60,000 crore.”
She highlighted a Finance Department of the BJP-led Delhi Government order issued on 31st March, restricting expenditures. Atishi revealed, “This order directs all departments that in April, they cannot spend more than 5% of their allocated budget. Despite the grand claims of this ‘hawa-hawai’ and ‘jumla budget’ on paper, departments are barred from using the funds.”
Breaking down the figures, Atishi exposed the stark reality. She explained, “If only 5% of ₹1 lakh crore can be spent in a month, that amounts to ₹5,000 crore. Over 12 months, this totals ₹60,000 crore, meaning the government itself knows it does not have a budget exceeding ₹60,000 crore.”
Atishi emphasised that the revelations about the budget are not her or AAP’s claims but from the Delhi government’s own Finance Department. She stated, “The Finance Department itself has said that no department can spend funds. Why? Because the Delhi government simply does not have the money. Today, the BJP’s lies have been exposed not by us but by its own government order, laid bare before the people of Delhi and the entire country.”
Slamming the BJP’s governance, she remarked on the gap between rhetoric and reality. Atishi stated, “It is easy to give grand and ‘jumlevaar’ speeches, but when the money does not exist, how will they spend it? Today, the very point I raised in my speech has been proven through the government’s own order. The BJP government’s own officials have exposed them.”
