Former Haryana finance minister, Sampat Singh, on Tuesday accused the BJP led Haryana government of “gross financial mismanagement” alleging that large portions of 2025-26 budget went unspent despite government’s claims of high utilisation.
Addressing a press conference, Singh who is Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) patron, questioned chief minister Nayab Singh Saini’s claim made during his budget speech on March 2 in the state assembly that 98% of 2025-26 budget had been utilised.
“However, expenditure data till February 25, 2026 tells a different story. Of 729 announcements made in 2025–26 budget, about 300 schemes with a total allocation of ₹7,500 crore saw zero expenditure as of March 31, 2026,’’ the former finance minister said, quoting statistics from Haryana government’s online budget allocation monitoring and analysis system. Singh maintained that ₹406.12 crore was allocated for subsidised agricultural infrastructure (agriculture department) but the actual expenditure remained zero.
“Similarly, development and panchayat department failed to spend a single rupee out of the ₹890 crore allocated under the State Finance Commission for rural development. Funds amounting to ₹248 crore under the Swachh Bharat Mission and ₹73 crore for the Karnal Smart City project also remained unutilised. About ₹357 crore allocated for strengthening healthcare services and for the National Cancer Prevention Programme also went unspent. In education department, despite budgetary allocation of ₹310 crore for school infrastructure, model schools, and major science projects, the actual expenditure recorded was zero. Out of the ₹1,415 crore allocated for major education schemes, only ₹240 crore was actually spent,’’ the former finance minister maintained.
The INLD leader said that no expenditure was incurred on schemes worth ₹306 crore intended to strengthen fire services. “Under all urban housing schemes, ₹1,339.90 crore remained unspent while for rural housing only ₹205 crore was utilised out of an allocation of ₹1540 crore. Out of ₹1,129 crore earmarked for micro-irrigation and related schemes not a single rupee was spent. Expenditure on ₹865 crore allocated for drinking water supply and regional development projects stood at zero. The rural development department recorded zero expenditure on schemes worth ₹300 crore. Total departmental expenditure remained limited to a mere 18%,” he maintained.
{{/usCountry}}The INLD leader said that no expenditure was incurred on schemes worth ₹306 crore intended to strengthen fire services. “Under all urban housing schemes, ₹1,339.90 crore remained unspent while for rural housing only ₹205 crore was utilised out of an allocation of ₹1540 crore. Out of ₹1,129 crore earmarked for micro-irrigation and related schemes not a single rupee was spent. Expenditure on ₹865 crore allocated for drinking water supply and regional development projects stood at zero. The rural development department recorded zero expenditure on schemes worth ₹300 crore. Total departmental expenditure remained limited to a mere 18%,” he maintained.
{{/usCountry}}Singh said under MGNREGA, only ₹99 crore was spent out of an allocation of ₹446 crore. “In the Social justice and empowerment department, expenditure on various welfare schemes worth ₹591 crore was nil. The women and child development incurred no expenditure on schemes worth ₹221 crore, while for nutrition programmes, only ₹6 crore was spent out of an allocation of ₹90 crore. Out of ₹151 crore allocated for skill development and employment schemes—including the ‘Drone Didi’ and ‘Sankalp’ schemes—expenditure remained zero. Only 22% of the allocated funds were spent on the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ initiative,’’ he said.
The INLD leader said he will lodge a formal complaint with the Principal Accountant General, the Central Finance Commission, and the governor. “The failure to spend even a single penny on these schemes constituted gross financial mismanagement on the part of the BJP government. The BJP government is merely engaging in event management,’’ Singh alleged.