The Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Delhi Assembly, Atishi, has questioned the deliberate curtailment of the Budget discussion, pointing out that the ruling party (BJP) is attempting to evade discussion. Writing to Speaker Vijender Gupta, she demanded to know why the government allocated a mere hour for deliberations on the state’s financial blueprint and why it refused to present the Economic Survey.
Atishi further raised concerns over the credibility of Budget 2025-26, asking whether its revenue projections were fictitious and if that was the reason behind the government’s reluctance to allow a thorough debate. “Will an Assembly of 70 MLAs spend just an hour discussing the Annual Budget, sandwiched between five other agenda items?” she asked, slamming the government’s approach as an attempt to dodge transparency.
In the letter addressed to the Speaker, Delhi Assembly LoP Atishi stated, “The Annual Budget Estimate 2025-26 was laid down before the Delhi Assembly yesterday by the Chief Minister, Mrs. Rekha Gupta. Being an experienced legislator and even more experienced public representative, vou are well aware that the annual Budget Estimate is most important document to be laid down before any Assembly.”
“After it is laid down, it is followed by several days of discussion. Legislators from both sides of the aisle present their views and the Finance Minister responds to all those issues before the Budget is finally passed by the Assembly. Not only is this discussion and debate important for the legislators, but it is closely watched by the voters of Delhi, and people across the country,” she noted.
Atishi further wrote, “It was expected that the remaining 3 days of the current session would largely be spent on discussion on the budget. Late last night I received the ‘List of Business’ for today, i.e., 26th March 2025 (enclosed). I was astounded to see that the ‘List of Business’ has so many items that barely one hour of discussion would be possible on the Budget.”
“Given that the session timing is from 11am to 5pm, with one hour spent on ‘Rule 280’, one hour on ‘Questions’ and one hour on the lunch break, that leaves only 3 hours for discussion on the Budget, on the CAG report, a short duration discussion under Rule 55 on water shortage and water logging, a motion under Rule 107, adoption of 2 reports of Assembly Committees, as well as financial papers to be laid down by the Chief Minister,” stated the Delhi Assembly LoP.
Atishi pointed out, “How can a Budget be discussed in this manner? Will an Assembly of 70 MLAs spend barely one hour in discussing the Annual Budget? Will it be sandwiched between 5 other agenda items? It almost seems that the Government wants to avoid a detailed discussion on the Budget. This is deeply worrying. First the Government has gone against all Parliamentary precedents and not tabled the Economic Survey before the Budget. And now the discussion on the Budget is being sandwiched between so many other issues.”
“No information has been provided on how much time will be devoted to discussion on the Budget or how much time will be given to the Ruling Party and the Opposition,” she added.
The Delhi Assembly LoP noted, “It is beginning to seem as if the Government wants to hide something. What is the economic data and analysis in the Economic Survey that the Government does not want to bring to light? Is this Budget 2025-26 based on fictitious revenue projections and economic trends? Is this why the Government does not want to present the Economic Survey or have a proper discussion on the Budget?”
Addressing the Speaker, Atishi wrote, “It is your responsibility to ensure the sanctity of parliamentary procedures and ethos. It is requested that the next 2 days should be devoted solely to the discussion on the Budget. The remaining discussion and business can be kept on 28th March or the session maybe extended by a day, if needed.”
