New Delhi, February 11 Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda said on Wednesday that growth alone is not enough, asserting that employment must be at the center of policy-making, and asked the government if success is being measured only by investment announcements or by dignified jobs created for India's youth.
Participating in the discussion on the Union Budget 2026-27 in the Rajya Sabha, Deve Gowda of the JD(S) welcomed the various measures announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, saying that the budget comes at an important moment when India is on the threshold of becoming a middle-income to upper-middle-income nation.
"Our choices today will determine whether growth remains narrow or whether it truly becomes 'sabka saath sabka vikas'," he said.
As a senior member of this House, Deve Gowda said, "I must also bring to the government some constructive concerns."
He further said, "Growth alone is not enough; employment must be at the center of our policy thinking."
He noted that manufacturing and MSMEs generate jobs when supported by skill development, a local ecosystem, affordable credit, and predictable regulations.
"We must honestly ask ourselves: are we measuring success only by investment announcements or by dignified jobs created for our youth, especially in smaller towns and rural India?" he said.
Welcoming the government's steps to simplify taxes, he said, "Taxpayers' confidence is equally important. Changes that affect cash flow or certain matters must be accompanied by safeguards. Honest taxpayers must feel protected, not anxious."
A modern economy cannot grow if entrepreneurs live in fear of compliance mistakes, Deve Gowda said, adding that the government must be firm but also fair.
Stating that India's future will be shaped in its cities and districts, not just in national corridors, he said, "Urban governance, water security, climate resilience, and regional balance deserve stronger attention."
He also emphasized the need for development that puts farmers, informal workers, and backward regions at the forefront.
Participating in the discussion, Kavita Patidar (BJP) highlighted steps such as making cancer drugs more affordable and higher allocation for defense in the budget as proactive measures by the government.
Similarly, BJP members Ashokrao Shankarroa Chavan and Sat Paul Sharma asserted that the budget focuses on youth, women, and the welfare of citizens, which will provide economic stability and support growth.
Sujeet Kumar (BJP) termed the budget roadmap for the next 25 years as "Viksit Bharat".
However, Congress member Rajeev Shukla said that there is nothing praiseworthy in the budget.
He demanded that either a supplementary or revised budget be presented to understand how the structure of the budget will be and what the expenditure will look like after taking into consideration the impact of the US trade deal, which was signed after the Union Budget 2026-27 was presented.
The deal entails an outflow of USD 500 billion, he said, adding that defense purchases are also included.
Haris Beeran (IUML) asked the finance minister if honest taxpayers have been denied their tax refunds to "manipulate government deficit figures".
