Delhi government criticized for skipping economic survey before budget

A day before the Delhi government is set to present its budget, there was a heated debate in the Assembly. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faced criticism from the Opposition, particularly the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), for not releasing an economic survey first. This survey is important as it offers insights into the state’s financial situation. Leader of the Opposition Atishi questioned how the BJP could prepare a budget without the economic survey. She pointed out that the survey contains vital data like GDP and tax trends. Atishi left the Assembly with her party members after accusing the Speaker of blocking discussions on unmet financial promises to women in Delhi. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta explained that the government is still completing audits of various departments, which is why the economic survey has not been presented yet. She promised that the survey would be tabled soon. Meanwhile, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva argued that the previous AAP government’s corruption is to blame for the delays in audits. Congress leader Devender Yadav also criticized the BJP for not following the usual practice of presenting an economic survey before the budget. He expressed concern that the BJP lacks concrete plans to tackle Delhi’s challenges, suggesting they are not addressing real issues. The debate also covered rising power tariffs and the current state of Delhi’s health infrastructure. The Power Minister responded that the AAP had left significant debt for the government to handle.