New Delhi, Feb. 2 -- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday mounted a sharp defence of Union Budget 2026, responding to criticism from Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, who had accused the government of being "blind to realities" facing the economy.

In an exclusive interview with News18 Network, Sitharaman said she was willing to engage seriously with Opposition feedback, but questioned the substance behind Gandhi's remarks.

Sitharaman said that while she respects the office Gandhi holds, his criticism often lacks data and rigour.

"He is the leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha. I want to take him seriously, and I want to take his observations seriously to see if things can be done better. But most often, I think he s...