Budget 2017: Top Opposition responses

Akhilesh Yadav, Samajwadi Party

"The fourth budget of the BJP government has come but the party has still not succeeded in bringing 'achhe din.' Our government had given compensation of ₹2 lakh to each of those who died in queues for withdrawing their own money".

Mayawati, Bahujan Samaj Party

“Small relief given in income tax will neither offset the problems of the people nor wash away the blots on the BJP-led NDA government.”

Rahul Gandhi, Congress

"We were expecting fireworks, instead it was a damp squib. It is just 'sher-o shayari' in the budget. There is nothing for farmers and youth and nothing for job creation. There is no clear vision."

Nitish Kumar, Janata Dal (United)

"You initiated the step (demonetisation) against black money, but it is surprising that you yourself do not know about its outcome as to how many high-value notes returned to the system.... Those of us who supported demonetisation wish to know how much black money and fake currencies fell in the net. Emphasis has now been laid on cashless transactions as a part of diversionary tactics. Earlier, thieves used to steal cash from people's pockets or houses. But now, anybody standing near you at the ATM, with the help of a machine, can steal all the data and withdraw your money illegally."

Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal

“They have demolished the tradition of presentation of separate Rail Budget since Independence… what is the rationale of continuing with a Railway minister when he cannot present the budget of his ministry.”

Sitaram Yechury, Communist Party of India (Marxist)

"The Finance Minister has joined the Prime Minister and the BJP President in producing 'jumlas'. And this budget is a classic example of that."

Mamata Banerjee, All India Trinamool Congress

"A controversial budget which is clueless, useless, baseless, missionless and actionless. Heartless. No roadmap for the country or the future from a government that has lost all its credibility.”

Naveen Patnaik, Biju Janata Dal

"I was expecting something spectacular for the common man in the Union Budget which is a mixed bag and falls short of expectations on many counts. Not much has been done to address the adverse impact of demonetisation. The initiative related to job creation is one area of serious concern where an adequate focus has not been given."

Uddhav Thackeray, Shiv Sena

"The troubles that people had to face due to demonetisation can never be compensated. The government might say that deposits have increased manifold but the truth remains that the big money defaulters have been kept aside while common man was pick-pocketed. When last year's announcements remain unfulfilled, what is the meaning of this Budget? When you do not fulfil the promises you make, what is the need to present the Budget every year."

Supriya Sule, Nationalist Congress Party

"It is a government of U-turn. The budget is high on rhetoric and short on delivery.”

Manish Sisodia, Aam Aadmi Party

“Delhi has been deprived of its due from central share in this year's budget too.”

Debabrata Biswas, All India Forward Bloc

"The restrictions for political funding are not adequate and superficial in its nature. Introduction of electoral bonds will not work and why the government is reluctant to introduce IT on political parties?"

D Raja, Communist Party of India

"The way they claim about giving thrust on rural development, it is rhetoric, done in view of polls in five states. What are the efforts for job creation? On the issue of tax, how they are going to tighten noose around those evading tax, they have not explained.”

Varaprasad Rao Velagapalli, YSR Congress

"There is no special status to Andhra Pradesh, so no justice has been done to us. They did not consider a single proposal for employment. They have not considered the poor people."

Asaduddin Owaisi, AIMIM

"Minorities account for 20% of the country's population but they were allocated just 0.21 per cent or ₹4,515 crores in the Budget, which envisages total expenditure of ₹21,46,735 crore. The per capita outlay for minorities comes to only ₹187 per capita. The per capita budgetary expenditure for the country's population is ₹17,730".

Yogendra Yadav, Swaraj India

"In entirety, this budget reflects the government's indifference and arrogance towards farmers. Indifference in the face of farmers suicides and arrogance that their votes are guaranteed even if nothing is done for them."