NEW DELHI: The Congress party on Saturday took jibe at the

Modi government

over its Union Budget announcements, particularly highlighting the focus on Bihar while questioning the lack of support for Andhra Pradesh, a key NDA ally.
In the Union Budget for fiscal 2025-26, Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman made several announcements for Bihar, including the establishment of a Makhana Board, financial support for the Western Kosi canal, and efforts to enhance IIT Patna’s capacity.

The Centre also plans to set up a National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Management in Bihar, along with the facilitation of greenfield airports to address the state's future needs.

Congress communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh remarked that Bihar seemed to have received a "bonanza" of announcements, pointing out the timing with elections due later in the year. He asked, "Why has the other pillar of the NDA, namely Andhra Pradesh, been so cruelly ignored?"
Ramesh also took a jab at the government’s plans for nutritional support programmes such as Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0. He criticized the delayed revision of cost norms and noted the absence of provisions like school breakfasts, milk for students, and increases in Anganwadi workers’ honorarium—proposals that had long been pushed by the Union Education and Women and Child Development Ministries but rejected by the Finance Ministry.

The Finance minister had earlier announced that cost norms for Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 would be enhanced in the upcoming budget. These programmes provide nutritional support to millions of children, pregnant women, and adolescent girls, particularly in aspirational districts and the Northeast.