New Delhi [India]: Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Delhi Legislative Assembly and AAP leader , Atishi, on Monday criticized the BJP-led Delhi government for failing to present the Economic Survey ahead of the budget, calling it a “break from tradition” and questioning the government’s ability to govern.
Atishi Questions Budget Transparency
Addressing a press conference, Atishi expressed surprise over the missing Economic Survey, which traditionally precedes the budget presentation.
“It is surprising how the budget was made without an economic survey. To date, we have not seen any government making a budget without an economic survey. Why is the BJP government of Delhi not presenting an economic survey, and how was the budget made without it? Today, the question arises—does the BJP even know how to run a government?” she said.
She emphasized that previous Economic Surveys under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government provided crucial data, including GDP, per capita income, tax collections, and overall economic performance.
Break from Tradition?
Atishi pointed out that presenting the Economic Survey before the budget is a long-standing practice in both state assemblies and Parliament.
“In every assembly of the country as well as in the Parliament, the Economic Survey is presented a day before the budget. This tradition exists because the survey has the main figures of the country or state’s economy. If you look at the previous Economic Survey of Delhi, it had comprehensive figures on GDP, per capita income, tax revenue, needs of the people, and whether the government was in profit or loss,” she said.
Allegations of Suppression in Assembly
Speaking to ANI, Atishi claimed that when AAP leaders tried to raise the issue in the Assembly, they were “not allowed to speak” and questioned whether the Economic Survey was being “hidden” for political reasons.
“In the last 10 years, it has never happened that the Economic Survey was not presented before the budget. What the Chief Minister said is wrong…When we tried to raise the issue in the Assembly, we were not allowed to speak…This is a big question: why the Economic Survey is being hidden,” she said.
With the first budget of the newly elected Delhi government set to be presented tomorrow, Atishi’s remarks have intensified the political debate over transparency and governance in Delhi.