Imphal: Former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has welcomed key provisions of the Union Budget, saying the proposed reforms would open up new opportunities for startups, IT-enabled services and skilled youth in the Northeast. In contrast, the Congress accused the Centre of ignoring Manipur’s prolonged crisis and failing to provide targeted relief for the state.
In a post on X, Singh said the Budget would give a strong boost to India’s IT sector under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. He said the progressive reforms would also benefit startups and IT-enabled services, creating fresh opportunities in the northeastern region and strengthening India’s push towards an innovation-driven digital economy.
In another post, Singh said the Budget’s focus on diversifying farm outputs through high-value agriculture would help improve farmer incomes and strengthen rural livelihoods.
“The emphasis on crops like coconut, cocoa, cashew, agarwood and nuts, opens new economic opportunities- especially for the North Eastern region. I express my gratitude to Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodiJi and Hon’ble Union FM Smt.@nsitharamanJi for a budget that empowers farmers and supports sustainable growth,” he stated.
However, Congress state unit president Keisham Meghachandra criticised the Budget, alleging that it failed to address Manipur’s ongoing crisis. In an X post, he said the silence from Delhi was “deafening”, noting that thousands had been displaced and many families were still struggling to return home.
Meghachandra said the Budget did not include a proposed ‘Peace and Reconciliation Fund’ and questioned the relevance of infrastructure announcements in the absence of improved security and rehabilitation.
“Announcing Rs 12,000 crore for roads means nothing when citizens are too afraid to travel on them. Concrete cannot replace security. Highways cannot substitute healing. Balance sheets cannot rebuild shattered lives,” he said.
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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday presented the Union Budget for the 2026-27 fiscal, announcing a series of measures aimed at boosting infrastructure and economic growth, including in tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
