Imphal, Feb 2: Former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on February 1 welcomed the Union Budget 2026–27, saying the reforms announced would open up new avenues for startups, IT-enabled services and skilled youth in the Northeast, even as the state Congress sharply criticised the Centre for what it described as neglect of Manipur’s prolonged crisis.
In a post on X, Singh said the Budget had provided a significant push to India’s information technology and digital economy under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. He noted that the policy measures would help foster innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly benefiting young professionals and emerging startups in the northeastern region. According to him, the reforms reinforce India’s shift towards an innovation-led, digitally driven growth model.
Singh also welcomed the Budget’s focus on diversifying agricultural production through high-value crops, stating that such measures would strengthen farmers’ incomes and improve rural livelihoods. He said the emphasis on value addition in agriculture would play an important role in boosting the rural economy and providing long-term stability to farming communities.
In contrast, the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee reacted strongly to the Budget, accusing the Centre of overlooking the state’s ongoing humanitarian and security challenges. MPCC president Keisham Meghachandra said that despite years of unrest, displacement and suffering, the Budget failed to offer any concrete relief or a clear roadmap for peace in Manipur.
In a post on X, Meghachandra claimed that the absence of a proposed ‘Peace and Reconciliation Fund’ reflected a lack of seriousness towards resolving the crisis. He questioned the relevance of large infrastructure allocations in a situation where people remain fearful and unable to move freely, arguing that development projects cannot substitute for security, justice and reconciliation.
The contrasting responses came after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget for the 2026–27 financial year earlier in the day, outlining measures aimed at accelerating infrastructure growth and economic development across the country, including in tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
