File photo of Congress leader Malikarjun Kharge. | Photo credit: The Hindu
A day before Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presents the Union Budget, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday (January 31, 2026) stressed that the Narendra Modi government cannot hide behind “legacy”.
“Their own legacy has plunged the economy into unprecedented chaos. Will this budget offer real solutions to the many economic indicators now in freefall?” asked Mr. Kharge in a post on the X social media platform.
He shared a video comparing growth under the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and the Modi government.
He said manufacturing growth had declined from an average of 7.4% during the UPA years to 3.54% under the current government, while the sector’s share of GDP remained stuck at around 13%, far short of the 25% target promised under the ‘Make in India’ programme.
Youth unemployment
The Congress chief said that only one in two graduates are employable, according to official surveys, due to employment concerns. Unemployment among young women was 26.3% and among young men 15.8%, according to the Periodic Labor Force Survey and India Skills Report.
The Congress president also pointed to a sharp slowdown in exports and said India’s share of world trade has fallen to an 80-year low.
Citing data from the Commerce Department, he said the trade deficit reached a record $41.7 billion.
Mr Kharge also said household finances were under pressure, with private sector wage growth at its lowest in 15 years and household savings falling from 7.4% to 5.3%, according to official estimates.
“Weakening Middle Class Consumption”
Rising food inflation, declining two-wheeler sales and a rise in personal loans reflected weakening consumption by the middle class, the Congress president said.
On infrastructure, he cited the Economic Survey, which said 51% of the annual highway construction target remained incomplete with three months remaining in the financial year.
“The mess is yours, the legacy is yours. Now show us the solution if you have any,” the Congress chief said.
Bharat Jodo Yatra
On the third anniversary of the completion of the kanniyakumari-kashmir Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi, party communications chief Jairam Ramesh recalled how the yatra’s central message over the past 12 years has focused on “sharpening economic inequalities, deepening social polarization and increasing political authoritarianism”.
Mr. Ramesh said the yatra, which covered 4,000 km across 12 states, was a “deeply transformative event in the politics of our country”.
“It will be remembered and cherished for decades to come,” he added.
Published – 31 Jan 2026 21:30 IST
