Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Tuesday that the first budget of the newly formed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government is “historic” as it reflects a confluence of “glorious history and bright future”.

“Delhi has been a symbol of Bharatiya or Sanatana resilience. Whenever the city was devastated, it stood up again. Delhi is a symbol of national consciousness and reconstruction. Delhi has stood up again and embarked on the reconstruction path,” said Ms. Gupta.

She said the budget is not just an economic document but the “clarion call for Delhi’s rebirth”. “Now Delhi will neither stop nor halt — it will run, it will shine, it will create history,” she said.

In her over two-hour speech, Ms. Gupta took potshots at the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government several times. She alleged that AAP had let Delhi’s development “slip” as it chose “politics over development”.

To this, senior AAP leader sarcastically commented that “the BJP is still in election mode”. “The election is over. It’s time to work, not to abuse us,” she said.

Referring to AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal’s poll promises during the 2020 Delhi Assembly poll, Ms. Gupta said instead of making Delhi like London, AAP was busy “promoting the party and pasting posters”. “The previous government only pasted posters in the name of infrastructure, while development remained stagnant,” she said, adding that her government will focus on development rather than advertisements.

Liquor ‘scam’

Accusing AAP of indulging in corruption, she said, “Gone are the days when liquor mafia and PWD contractors fill government officials’ pockets. Now, an honest government has come to power, and it will fix the imprint that AAP left and work towards Viksit (developed) Delhi,” said the Chief Minister.

She took a jibe at Mr. Kejriwal, saying that the ‘Sheesh Mahal’ [CM residence renovated during AAP rule] would be included in Delhi’s tourism circuit. “We will include the ‘Sheesh Mahal’ as a tourist destination and show it to people through tickets,” said Ms. Gupta. 6, Flagstaff Road bungalow, the official residence of Mr. Kejriwal when he held the CM’s post, is currently under scrutiny by Central probe agencies for alleged irregularities in its renovation.

Ms. Atishi alleged that the budget is a smokescreen to hide the BJP’s false guarantees. “If the government truly had ₹1 lakh crore in revenue, they wouldn’t have hesitated to present the Economic Survey. They hid it because the numbers would expose the truth behind this hollow budget… this makes one thing clear: less work, more slogans. Five years of just insults, this is the BJP’s real agenda,” added Ms. Atishi.