Union Budget 2026–27 Continues Neglect of Minorities, Says Shabbir Ali

Senior Congress leader and Advisor to the Telangana Government Mohammed Ali Shabbir has strongly criticised the Union Budget 2026–27, alleging that the BJP-led Union government has once again failed to prioritise minority welfare despite a sharp rise in overall expenditure.

Marginal Increase in Minority Affairs Allocation

Reacting to the budget presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Shabbir Ali pointed out that the allocation for the Ministry of Minority Affairs for 2026–27 stands at ₹3,400 crore. This includes ₹3,395.62 crore under the revenue head and a mere ₹4.38 crore for capital expenditure.

He noted that the increase over the previous year was only about ₹50 crore, calling it insignificant when compared to the substantial expansion of the Union Budget.

Budget Growth Fails to Benefit Minorities

According to Shabbir Ali, the total Union Budget has increased from approximately ₹50.65 lakh crore in 2025–26 to an estimated ₹53.5 lakh crore in 2026–27 — an absolute rise of over ₹2.85 lakh crore in a single year.

“Out of this massive increase, minorities have been given just ₹50 crore. This clearly shows where the government’s priorities lie,” he said, adding that minorities, who constitute over 15 per cent of the country’s population, continue to receive a negligible share of national resources.

States Spending More Than the Centre

Shabbir Ali underlined that the Union government’s allocation for minority welfare is now lower than what several States are spending individually. He pointed out that Congress-ruled Telangana alone allocated ₹3,591 crore for minority welfare in 2025–26, while Karnataka has made minority-specific provisions exceeding ₹4,000 crore through multiple schemes.

“These figures expose a disturbing reality. The Union government is spending less on minority welfare for the entire country than individual States like Telangana,” he said.

Minority Welfare Share ‘Statistically Insignificant’

The Congress leader also highlighted the disparity in budgetary commitment when measured in percentage terms. While Telangana has allocated around 1.18 per cent of its total budget for minority welfare, the Union government’s allocation works out to only a fraction of a percentage point of the national budget.

“This makes minority welfare statistically insignificant at the national level,” he remarked.

Education and Skill Development Hit Hard

Shabbir Ali said education continued to suffer under successive Union Budgets. Scholarship, fellowship and educational support schemes for minorities have either stagnated or weakened over the years, adversely affecting first-generation learners.

He added that inadequate funding for skill development and livelihood programmes has further undermined employment prospects for minority youth.

Comparison With UPA Era Highlights Regression

Drawing a long-term comparison, Shabbir Ali recalled that in 2013–14, when the total Union Budget stood at ₹16.65 lakh crore, the Congress-led UPA government had allocated ₹3,531 crore for minority welfare.

“Today, with the Union Budget swelling to ₹53.5 lakh crore, the allocation has actually come down to ₹3,400 crore. This is not stagnation; it is a clear regression,” he said.

Telangana Projects Ignored in Union Budget

Shabbir Ali also accused the BJP-led NDA government of continuously neglecting Telangana in the Union Budget. He said Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had sought funding for key projects such as Hyderabad Metro Phase-II, the Regional Ring Road (RRR), Musi River rejuvenation, and commitments under the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014.

“None of these projects received specific mentions or allocations,” he said, adding that vertical tax devolution remains at 41 per cent, far below the demanded 50 per cent. He also noted that there was no relaxation in fiscal deficit limits or conversion of loans into grants.

Follow MunsifNews24x7 for latest updates.