New Delhi, Feb. 12 -- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched a sharp attack on the Congress on Thursday, mocking them for "crying crocodile tears" over rising debt while simultaneously demanding higher borrowing and increased fund releases to states.

Addressing the Rajya Sabha during the reply to the discussion on the Union Budget 2026-27, Sitharaman said, "Congress sheds crocodile tears about rising debt. They want us to borrow more money and also release funds to the States."

Highlighting the principle of no excessive borrowing, she added, "I would like to say that the government cannot borrow excessively. That is a principle that guides us."

She remarked that while the Congress is "obsessed about outlays", her administration i...