Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke out against the central government on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. He attacked the Smart Cities Mission and said it did not do what it promised. Gandhi, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, claimed that the plan was just a way to make big announcements without doing real work. He believes that the nation was told a story about total change that never really happened for most people.

What Happened?

The Smart Cities Mission was a big project started by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was supposed to change how Indian cities work and look. However, Rahul Gandhi says this was a "half-baked scheme." He claims the government used a lot of money and fancy ads, but they did not take responsibility for the results. According to Gandhi, the goal was never to fix the whole city, but only small parts, leaving many people behind without help.

Gandhi asked the government some very important questions in Parliament. He wanted to know what a "Smart City" actually is and how the government decided if a project was a success. He also asked how many cities actually changed and how people's daily lives got better. The government replied by saying they spent about 48,000 crore rupees. They also claimed that 97% of the work is already finished. Gandhi says these numbers do not match what people see when they walk outside their homes every day.

He pointed out that even if the government says the work is done, the reality on the ground is very different. He mentioned that in many places, the water is still not safe to drink. He also talked about open sewers and roads that are falling apart. To him, a city cannot be called "smart" if it cannot provide basic things like clean air and safety to its citizens. He believes the whole plan was built on grand publicity rather than real improvements for the common man.

Key Highlights

Rahul Gandhi called the Smart Cities Mission a deception and a half-baked scheme.
The government says it spent 48,000 crore rupees on these urban projects.
Official records claim that 97% of the Smart City projects are now complete.
Gandhi argues that basic needs like clean water and safe roads are still missing.
He criticized the government for focusing on ads instead of real accountability.
The Congress leader says the plan failed to give citizens basic dignity and safety.

Why Does This Matter?

This news is very important for people living in India's cities. Most people want simple things: a road that does not have holes, water that will not make them sick, and air that is safe to breathe. When the government spends 48,000 crore rupees of public money, everyone wants to see a real change. If the money is spent but the bridges are still collapsing, it makes people feel that their taxes are being wasted on projects that do not help them.

It also matters because it shows how big government plans are checked. If one side says everything is perfect and the other side says nothing has changed, the public needs to look at the facts. Understanding these issues helps people ask better questions of their local leaders. Everyone deserves to live in a city that is safe and clean, and this debate reminds us that "smart" should mean better living conditions for every single person, not just a few.

What Are People Saying?

Rahul Gandhi shared his thoughts on his WhatsApp channel and spoke about it in Parliament. He is calling for more honesty from the government. He wants them to show exactly how people's lives have changed for the better. On the other side, government officials often point to the high number of completed projects as a sign of success. They believe they have modernized parts of India that were neglected for many years.

The public reaction is often mixed. In some areas, people see new lights or better parks, which they like. But in many other areas, people are still dealing with the same old problems like flooding during the rain and bad traffic. Many experts agree that while technology is good, the most important part of any city is the basic service it provides to the poor and the middle class. The debate continues as the scheme officially nears its conclusion.

Conclusion

The Smart Cities Mission was meant to be a revolution for urban India. While the government says they have finished almost all the work, Rahul Gandhi is pointing out serious failures. He believes the project was more about making the government look good than fixing the lives of the people. As the project ends, the real test will be whether citizens feel safer and more comfortable in their cities. For now, the fight over the truth of the Smart Cities Mission remains a major topic in Indian politics.