Drafted by bureaucrats, lacks political input: Sajad Lone tears into J&K Budget

Jammu : People’s Conference chief and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone on Friday criticised the Jammu and Kashmir government’s budget, saying it lacked political direction and was primarily drafted by bureaucrats with little improvement over the previous year.

Speaking to reporters, Lone, per news agency said, “The budget is as good or as bad as it was last time. I would say it is as bad as it was last time.”

He claimed the budget reflected bureaucratic dominance rather than political decision-making. “This is a budget by the bureaucrats. There is no political input in it,” he said.

Lone also accused the government of repeatedly thanking the Centre without outlining an independent policy framework. “They are repeatedly thanking the Centre — repeatedly,” he said.

Questioning the government’s claims of fiscal constraints, Lone said the document itself did not reflect any such limitations. “Are there any restrictions in the budget? There are none. There are no financial restrictions at all,” he said, adding that even tax collection did not appear restricted.

He also criticised the dilution of the government’s earlier promise of providing 12 free LPG cylinders per year to all poor families. “Now it has been confined to Antyodaya Anna Yojana beneficiaries. This is a climbdown,” he said, expressing doubt over whether even the revised benefit would be delivered—(KNO)