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New Delhi: Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Singh Hooda on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Union government, alleging that a weak foreign policy has exposed India’s economy to pressure from all sides. He demanded a people-centric Union Budget that significantly increases allocations for education, health, agriculture, sports and defence, warning that the country is facing record inflation, unemployment and a historic fall in the value of the rupee.

Speaking to reporters at the Parliament House complex, Hooda said the upcoming Budget must provide relief to the commoner, farmers and labourers, who are bearing the brunt of economic mismanagement. “The rupee is at its weakest level against the dollar in the country’s history. Inflation is high, unemployment is at a record level, and the economic pressure on ordinary citizens is continuously increasing. In such a situation, the country needs a strong, sensitive and inclusive budget,” he said.

Hooda accused the government of failing to follow even its own policy commitments in key social sectors. Citing official policy documents, he said the National Health Policy recommends allocation of 2.5 per cent of GDP to the health sector, but the government is spending only 1.4 per cent. Similarly, the National Education Policy mandates at least 6 per cent of GDP for education, while the current allocation stands at around 4.5 per cent.

He further pointed out that the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy recommends allocating 2 per cent of GDP to research and development. Still, the government is allocating only 0.6 per cent. “The Standing Committee on Defence has repeatedly stated that defence spending should be at least 3 per cent of GDP. Yet the government is allocating only 1.9 per cent, the lowest defence budget since 1962. Since then, India’s defence spending has always remained above 2 per cent of GDP,” Hooda said.

Highlighting macroeconomic stress indicators, Hooda recalled that as of October 2025, India’s trade deficit had reached $41.7 billion, the highest in 78 years. “The current account deficit is at 1.3 per cent of GDP, while the combined debt of the Centre and states has reached 82 per cent of GDP — a historic high. Instead of ‘Startup India’, we are seeing ‘Shutdown India’, and ‘Make in India’ is turning into ‘Made for India’,” he remarked.

He alleged that the gap between the rich and the poor has widened sharply over the past decade. “Loans worth Rs 16 lakh crore have been written off in the last 10 years, while maximum monopoly and duopoly in the economy have been handed over to select private players,” Hooda said, adding that farmers and workers across the country are facing unprecedented hardship.

The Congress MP expressed concern that Haryana’s interests are routinely ignored in the Union Budget and hoped that this year would be different. He said he would raise issues concerning every section of society during the upcoming budget session of Parliament.

Hooda specifically demanded adequate budgetary allocation for several significant projects approved during the Congress government’s tenure but still pending. These include the international airport at Meham, the rail coach factory at Gohana, the AIIMS medical college at Badsa, 11 national institutions, and the Indian National Defence University (INDU) at Gurugram. “Without sufficient funds, these projects cannot move forward, depriving Haryana of critical infrastructure and employment opportunities,” he said.

He also pointed out that during the Congress regime, Haryana saw the expansion of 88 km of metro lines, whereas over the last 12 years, not a single inch of metro expansion has taken place. “Metro projects must be extended to meet the growing needs of urban Haryana,” he added.

On sports infrastructure, Hooda demanded that Haryana be designated the host, or at least a co-host, state for the Commonwealth Games 2030 and the Olympics 2036, which the Government of India has announced for Gujarat. “If Haryana is made a co-host, a significant portion of the multi-billion-dollar budget will be spent on strengthening sports infrastructure in the state, greatly benefiting athletes and youth,” he said. Concluding, Hooda reiterated that the forthcoming Union Budget, to be presented on February 1, must prioritise public welfare over corporate interests and address the deepening economic challenges facing the nation.