by Tehreem Parvaiz
SRINAGAR: Opposition parties on Friday criticised the Jammu and Kashmir Budget 2026–27 presented by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, terming it “hopeless”, “anti-public” and lacking political vision, while accusing the government of diluting poll promises and merely repackaging centrally sponsored schemes.
The Leader of Opposition criticised the budget, calling it National Conference-centric and alleging that funds had been shifted to benefit NC legislators. “There is nothing for the common masses. Daily wagers have been made a joke for the last year. There is no concrete policy for 70,000 to one lakh daily wagers,” he said.
The LOP alleged that promises made to unemployed youth had not been fulfilled. “Twenty-four thousand jobs were given to a company without any formal interviews. This is a totally anti-public budget,” he said, adding that no concrete capital expenditure had been outlined.
He further alleged that earlier promises of free electricity and other welfare measures for Antyodaya Anna Yojana families had not been honoured. “These announcements are lies. The National Conference has betrayed the people. The Chief Minister should apologise to the people of Kashmir and its youth,” he said.
MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para termed the budget “hopeless” and said it failed to offer any healing or hope to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “There is nothing for the youth, although 65 per cent of the population is young,” he said.
Para said people had voted with expectations that long-pending issues such as regularisation of daily wagers, horticulture-related concerns, farmers’ issues and Kisan Credit Card loans would be addressed. “We thought these issues would be taken up. In the first year, we said let us give the government time. But this is the second budget after 15 months, and a budget reflects intention. That intention is missing,” he said.
He also alleged that earlier announcements related to Antyodaya Anna Yojana had not translated into benefits on the ground. “Their ration cards are not of any use. They are playing with numbers. These budget announcements are mere statements and slogans meant for the media. What does a common person get?” he asked.
Para further said the government had failed to fill vacancies despite outsourcing thousands of posts. “Twenty-four thousand posts were outsourced, 15,000 vacancies remain unfilled, while nearly six lakh labourers from outside are working here. Our people are unemployed, hopeless, depressed and stressed,” he said.
He alleged that there was no industrial policy in place for the past year and said the budget made no mention of policies for handloom and handicrafts. “There has been no incentive policy for the last one and a half years. This is a vague repackaging of centrally sponsored schemes,” he added.
People’s Conference president Sajad Lone said the budget was no different from the previous one and alleged that it had been prepared entirely by bureaucrats, with no political input. “In budget-making, there should be both bureaucratic and political input. This is a budget by bureaucrats. The political role is limited to thanking the Centre repeatedly,” he said.
Lone alleged that despite there being no financial restrictions in terms of taxation or revenue, the government failed to fulfil its promises to the poor. Referring to the announcement of free gas cylinders, he said the Chief Minister had promised assistance to all poor families but had now confined the benefit only to Antyodaya Anna Yojana beneficiaries. “This is a dilution of his promise,” he said.
