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In a strong rebuttal to criticism of the Union Budget 2026-27, BJP national vice-president and Mahabubnagar MP D.K. Aruna defended the central government’s allocations, describing opposition claims as “baseless allegations.” During a press conference in Hyderabad, Aruna emphasized that the budget focuses on broader national economic goals rather than state-specific allocations.
“The Congress leaders who criticize the Union Budget should answer whether their own State Budget specifically allocated funds for individual towns like Gadwal or Mahbubnagar,” Aruna challenged, highlighting what she characterized as a double standard in budget criticism.
The MP drew attention to significant infrastructure investments benefiting Telangana, particularly the allocation of three high-speed rail corridors connecting Hyderabad to major southern cities. Out of seven nationwide high-speed rail projects totaling Rs 5.5 lakh crore, Telangana secured the Hyderabad-Bengaluru corridor (570 km, Rs 1.75 lakh crore), Hyderabad-Pune corridor (550 km, Rs 1.65 lakh crore), and Hyderabad-Chennai corridor (700 km, Rs 2.10 lakh crore).
These rail projects represent a substantial infrastructure investment in the region and are expected to dramatically improve connectivity between major economic centers in southern India, potentially accelerating business growth and tourism in the coming decades.
Beyond transportation infrastructure, Aruna noted that Telangana would receive an additional Rs 1,100 crore in central funds. The state also stands to benefit from educational infrastructure development with seven new Navodaya Vidyalayas announced for the region. These residential schools, established to provide quality education to talented children from rural areas, are part of the central government’s push to expand educational opportunities.
Aruna expressed confidence that Telangana would secure one of five proposed University Townships planned nationally. Additionally, the budget includes provisions for girls’ residential hostels in all 33 districts of the state, addressing an important aspect of educational access for female students.
The BJP leader highlighted the establishment of a high-level banking committee to review the Viksit Bharat (Developed India) vision, suggesting this would bring financial resources to smaller urban centers. She specifically mentioned that Mahbubnagar town, recently reclassified as a Tier-3 city, would benefit from the Rs 5,000 crore allocated for infrastructure development in Tier-2 and Tier-3 urban areas across the country.
Addressing a point of regional contention, Aruna firmly rejected allegations regarding the denial of national project status to the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Project. She shifted blame to the Congress, questioning why they had not included the project under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act when they had the opportunity.
“Who was truly at fault?” she asked rhetorically, while claiming personal credit for advancing the irrigation project. In a direct challenge to critics, she invited them to a public debate on the matter, signaling confidence in her position.
The press conference was attended by state BJP president N. Ramachandra Rao, Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar (who oversees municipal elections), former MLA Chinthala Ramachandra Reddy, and district BJP president Srinivas Reddy. Following the briefing, the leaders inspected arrangements at MVS Degree College grounds, where BJP national president Nitin Gadkari is scheduled to address party workers at a public meeting on February 4.
The exchange highlights the intensifying political rhetoric in Telangana as both national parties attempt to position themselves favorably with respect to central budget allocations and regional development priorities.
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13 Comments
The minister’s response about the Congress leaders’ own state budgets is a fair point. It’s common for opposition parties to criticize the central budget, but they should also be held accountable for their own spending priorities.
You’re right, the double standard criticism is valid. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the political discourse around the Union Budget.
The minister’s point about the Congress leaders’ own state budgets is a fair one. It’s easy to criticize the central budget, but the opposition should also be transparent about their own spending priorities at the state level.
Agreed. This speaks to the broader need for accountability and consistency in how political parties approach budget discussions, rather than just partisan point-scoring.
I’m curious to see how the Congress party responds to the minister’s challenge about their own state budget allocations. It’s a fair point, and could shed light on the nuances of budget criticism from the opposition.
Absolutely, the response from the Congress party will be telling. They’ll need to carefully address the minister’s critique if they want their budget criticism to be credible.
The infrastructure investments in high-speed rail for Telangana are quite significant and could be transformative for the state. It will be important to monitor how these projects are implemented and the economic benefits they deliver.
It’s interesting to see the minister challenge the Congress party’s budget criticism by highlighting the need for them to also be transparent about their own state-level spending. This speaks to the complexity of budget debates and the importance of nuance.
Absolutely, this exchange underscores the need for a more balanced and constructive approach to budget discussions, rather than just partisan rhetoric. The public deserves a clear-eyed assessment of spending priorities at all levels of government.
The high-speed rail projects for Telangana sound like a big win for the state’s infrastructure development. It’s good to see substantial investments in connectivity, which can have ripple effects across the regional economy.
Interesting to see the Finance Minister address the criticism around the Union Budget. It seems the government is highlighting major infrastructure investments in Telangana, particularly the high-speed rail corridors. This could be a significant boost for the state’s economic development.
The high-speed rail projects do sound like a substantial investment. It will be important to see how these get implemented and the economic impact they have on the region.
The infrastructure investments in high-speed rail for Telangana are quite significant. This could really transform connectivity and economic opportunities in the region, if executed well. It’s good to see the government focusing on major projects like this.