Panaji: Reacting to the State Budget, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao dismissed it as hollow and misleading. “This is not a ‘Ghatmut’ (strong) budget, but a ‘Jhutmut’ (false) budget filled with empty promises,” he said.

Alemao pointed out that the government is burdened with massive debt and has failed to clarify sources of funds or revenue. “What is provided is peanuts and chicken-feed. Seventy percent of revenue is already locked into salaries, pensions, social welfare commitments, and interest payments,” he noted.

He criticized the absence of a clear employment strategy. “The Chief Minister is silent on job creation targets. Our youth are desperately searching for employment, while this government is busy searching for ways to loot,” Alemao charged.

Calling the budget an election-year gimmick, he said, “The Chief Minister has tried to lure the public with fake promises. He repeated the word ‘Ghatmut’ hundreds of times, but this budget is nothing more than ‘Jhutmut.’ These false promises will be exposed.”

He also raised concerns about redevelopment plans for old government buildings. “I hope this is not a backdoor route to transfer public property into private hands under the guise of PPP,” he cautioned.