From Lalu Prasad Yadav to Manmohan Singh: Who said what on Union Budget 2016

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday presented in Parliament the Union Budget 2016-17 in which no change in personal Income Tax slabs has been announced, while a four-month compliance window for domestic black money holders has been given. The Budget has also given relief to tax payers who earn below Rs 5 lakh per annum and ceiling of rebate u/s 87A has been raised to Rs 5,000 from Rs 2,000. Jaitley also announced that a high-level committee headed by the revenue secretary will oversee creation of fresh liability using retro tax law while clean energy cess has been increased from Rs 200/tonne to 400/tonne on coal, lignite and peat. Here is how the politicians and people of the country reacted to the Budget: Manish Sisodia (Delhi deputy CM)

My 1st reaction to union budget : financial injustice to Delhi continues - no change in share in central taxes. Will speak in detail later.

— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) February 29, 2016

Yashwant Sinha (BJP): Yes, the Finance Minister has passed the test. There is something for everyone in this Budget. If someone is trying to give financial assistance to the poor instead of giving more money to the rich, this is a good thing. Kamal Nath (Congress): Unfortunately, what needed to be done has not been done. There is no immediate stimulus to create disposable income in hands of people or generate employment. Manmohan Singh (Congress): “I think it (doubling farmers’ income) is an impossible dream and there is no inclination, no way of telling the country how it will be achieved because it implies a 14 percent annual increase in the farm income in each of the five years” Radha Mohan Singh (Agriculture Minister): This is the first time after independence that a Budget has been made specifically for the farmers, the poor and the villages. Shashi Tharoor (Congress): The government has painted a very general picture. It has adopted many old policies of the UPA. Amit Shah (BJP president): Government has also done a lot for the infrastructure of the nation. The government has also taken a very important decision for the women in rural areas. Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Madhya Pradesh CM): I’m very happy as the Budget has been dedicated to farmers. PM said that we wish to double income of farmers by 2022. Lalu Prasad (RJD president): PM Modi said he will double the income of farmers by 2022. What is the guarantee? Manish Tewari (Congress)

#budget2016 high on rhetoric,flawed on comparison,low on imagination, bereft of ideas,services oligarchs,constricts freedom of RBI.DEAD SCUD

— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) February 29, 2016

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Devendra Fadnavis (Maharashtra CM)

Congrats @arunjaitley Ji for changing direction of budget speech from small geographic&sectoral announcement to broad focus plan#Budget2016

— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) February 29, 2016

Modi govt walks the talk. Thank you @narendramodi ji and @arunjaitley ji for giving a visionary budget in difficult times.#Budget2016

— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) February 29, 2016

Sushil Kumar Modi (BJP)

PM has passed the budget exam with https://t.co/8bfTGOHTEV ever https://t.co/sJ6QlSh1PL poor & pro farmer budget.Taken care of all segments.

— Sushil Kumar Modi (मोदी का परिवार ) (@SushilModi) February 29, 2016

Enhanced outlay in agri,irrigation,infrastructure,Skill & tax relief in housing,business,industry will benefit backward states like Bihar.

— Sushil Kumar Modi (मोदी का परिवार ) (@SushilModi) February 29, 2016

Kiran Bedi (BJP)

So far focus of the Budget is to remove entrenched road blocks and open up several opportunities for all, with substantial resources

— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) February 29, 2016

Very holistic specific solutions being offered to pending tax litigations by Finance Minister. @Arunjaitely. Can be used to resolve now

— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) February 29, 2016

Those who can afford to smoke in a cash note / paper with tobacco in it will pay more. (can afford it, knowing it's not good for health?)

— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) February 29, 2016

Roads,Railways,Rural,Mandi Towns get full attention.Also Health care goes deeper. Wastage's get checked thru MNREGA+FDI in Food Processing..

— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) February 29, 2016

Apart from the reactions from the politicians, there was also a lot of talk about the Budget on social media. Here’s a sample:

There's some ease of doing business but essentially it's an "Ease of Paying Tax" budget. This is a very very reformist idea #Budget2016

— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) February 29, 2016

Yes, lots of impressive words in the #Budget. Hope it isn't like my fitness plan! All intent and no execution!!

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 29, 2016

#budget2016 Jaitley's budget numbers may not add up on closer scrutiny but it is difficult to fault him on any onr measure

— R Jagannathan (@TheJaggi) February 29, 2016

Right wing govt doling out money for welfare and Left parties asking how is the gov gonna make money.

Irony dying. #Budget2016

— Gabbar (@GabbbarSingh) February 29, 2016