Bhopal erupted in political rhetoric as Congress veteran Kamal Nath tore into Madhya Pradesh’s freshly tabled 2026-27 budget, labeling it ‘ajnaani’—ignorant—instead of the ‘gyaani’ masterpiece claimed by the BJP government. The former CM’s sharp words came amid revelations of the state’s crippling debt load.
Nath pointed out that interest payments on loans are devouring ₹27,000 crore every year from the state’s coffers. With public debt crossing ₹5 lakh crore and fresh borrowings exceeding ₹70,000 crore this fiscal year, he warned of a fiscal catastrophe in the making.
The budget speech by CM Mohan Yadav had celebrated an expanded ‘Gyaan Sankalp’—knowledge pledge—now incorporating industry and infrastructure alongside welfare for the poor, youth, farmers (annadata), and women (nari shakti). Yadav positioned it as a roadmap for holistic growth under PM Modi’s guidance.
Yet, Nath begged to differ. ‘This is no knowledgeable budget; it’s utterly ignorant of ground realities,’ he told the media. He lambasted the government for fiscal recklessness, claiming Madhya Pradesh has become synonymous with falsehoods and mismanagement.
Key budget highlights include youth skilling and job-oriented training, farmer income enhancement, women empowerment programs, infrastructure upgrades, and incentives for industrial investment. But critics like Nath argue these are hollow promises when debt servicing trumps all.
As the assembly debates heat up, Nath’s outburst signals escalating opposition resistance. The BJP defends its strategy as visionary, but mounting debt raises questions about long-term viability. Madhya Pradesh’s economic trajectory hangs in balance, with political battles set to intensify.