The annual exercise known as the Union Budget has always been a major source of opinion — on politics, business and other topics — before during and after its presentation. With the advent of social media, these opinions can now come as fast as they are formed.
Here is an effort by International Business Times, India, to collate these opinions and present them to our readers in real time:
As had been expected from the get-go, politics over Union Budget 2017 has begun.
We were expecting fireworks, instead got a damp squib: Rahul Gandhi on #Budget2017 pic.twitter.com/dUlGCWty9s
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 1, 2017
The budget is rhetorical, but in actually creating jobs there is precious little. Railways got a cursory mention: Manish Tewari,Congress
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 1, 2017
Nothing on defence spending; How are they fighting #UPElections? Did they get donations in cheque or digital payment?: Renuka Chowdhury,Cong pic.twitter.com/HA9r7N2qc3
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 1, 2017
What is the need to present the Budget every year? Were all announcements of last year's budget fulfilled?: Uddhav Thackeray,Shiv Sena pic.twitter.com/zsOhA8ARqG
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 1, 2017
#Budget2017 Zero on Job creation, Zero on Manfacturing, Zero on Agriculture growth, Zero on Education, Zero on Health, Zero on SocialSector
— Randeep S Surjewala (@rssurjewala) February 1, 2017
***
With Budget 2017 being presented right now, peole are focusing on various aspects of it.
2.5-5 lacs will pay 5℅✔
— Faizan Siddique (@TheFaizzan) February 1, 2017
upto 3 lacs, you needn't to pay tax! How??
Pagal bana rhe hain ye sab mil k humko#BikGaiHaiGourMint#Budget2017
Brave to limit cash donations to party to Rs 2000, no transactions above 3L in cash - will have to see how it's implemented #Budget2017
— Indulekha Aravind (@Indulekha_A) February 1, 2017
#BHIM app calls IDBI bank when requested 2 call ICICI bank within the app. Can we at least get apps which get basics right ? #BUDGET2017
— Toy Vader (@micksbag) February 1, 2017
Allocation for MGNREGA at Rs 48,000 crore, highest ever. But @narendramodi called it a monument failure and made fun of it. No? #Budget2017
— Sadhavi Khosla (@sadhavi) February 1, 2017
FDI FOR EVERYBODY #Budget2017 pic.twitter.com/UYea1C4I67
— #IshIshIsh (@ishasha99) February 1, 2017
Service charges for ticket booking on IRCTC withdrawn! #Budget2017
— Anant Jain ?? (@AnantGJ) February 1, 2017
Travelling sasti hogi..
@Atheist_Krishna Rahul baba trying to understand #Budget2017 pic.twitter.com/R0RvCicHch
— Scarface (@al_kameeno) February 1, 2017
smart adhar card for SR citizens health tracking.....what a thought man....kudoz @arunjaitley #Budget2017 @sagarjjoshi87
— Lokesh Gupta (@lokeshggupta) February 1, 2017
#Budget2017 pic.twitter.com/Xx8KXsgZ2b
— Kush Sharma (@TheKushS) February 1, 2017
"Reforms in the UGC" - #budget2017. This is absolutely necessary. But, will it move beyond slogan shouting state?
— Lakshman Pillai A (@lakshmanpillai) February 1, 2017
OK Nifty in Red now ! #Budget2017
— AshDubey_ (@AshDubey_) February 1, 2017
Linking farmers funding to 'soil tests' is sensible #GoodGovernance.. #Budget2017
— रंगा (@ranganaathan) February 1, 2017
Demonetisation can have long-term benefits for the Indian economy, says Arun Jaitley #Budget2017 pic.twitter.com/BngMEx7l0b
— Kush Sharma (@TheKushS) February 1, 2017
#Budget2017 93 साल बाद रेल बजट अलग से पेश नहीं ।@1stIndiaNews
— Rudra Anurag Sharma (@rudra_anurag) February 1, 2017
This one is a parody account, by the way:
कुछ धमाका करने के मूड मे है बजट से...??#Budget2017
— Arnab Goswami (@RealArnabG) February 1, 2017
***
People on Twitter are slamming Congress and its Lok Sabha leader Mallikarjun Kharge over demands that the Lok Sabha be adjourned and Budget postponed.
Mallikarjun Kharge & other Congressi don't wanna do any work. All they want is holidays when someone dies, is born, marries, divorces etc.
— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) February 1, 2017
#Budget2017@OfficeOfRG suru kar diya Hungama choro ki party#RahulGandhi
— Akash shukla (@akashabbott) February 1, 2017
#Budget2017 khadge should not stand between the budget and the nation, this is hypocrisy.
— Anupam Shrivastava (@MAXANUPAM51) February 1, 2017
Stupidity as usual by Congress! #Budget2017
— Gaurav R. Pradhan (@gauravprad) February 1, 2017
By delaying #Budget2017 congress proved they are never acting in national interest
— kaushal vyas (@KAUSHALVYAS23) February 1, 2017
***
Levity seems to be a common refrain as the presentation of Budget 2017 starts.
अब बांग्लादेशी अंदर कैसे घुसाउं? #Budget2017 pic.twitter.com/iVJHhHaJcd
— Being Typo - HMP (@yourtypo) February 1, 2017
Finance Minister repeatedly mentioning the Father of Nation, #MahatmaGandhi in his budget speech. Burnol moment for the BJP/RSS supporters.
— Sadhavi Khosla (@sadhavi) February 1, 2017
Cong: बजेट में गरीबो और किसानों के लिए कुछ नहीं।
— HMParty (@TNP_India) February 1, 2017
AAP: मोदीजीने देश को लूट लिया है। शर्म करो मोदी जी।
HMP: मैथुन विरोधी बजेट है।@Being_Humor
That one guy who turns up late, no matter the occasion #Budget2017 pic.twitter.com/n0ftAnIvP5
— Kush Sharma (@TheKushS) February 1, 2017
The day when Mr.Modi has 2 listen while others speak.
— प्रिया sharma (@P_r_i_ya) February 1, 2017
He'd be so jealous rn ??#Budget2017
Pic 1: How much Jaitley is gonna speak abt the #Budget2017
— Niraag® S ?? (@niraag69) February 1, 2017
Pic 2: How much everyone is going to react #UnionBudget2017 pic.twitter.com/0oaH12H4N5
Telangana to get 2kgs brown peda and 1kg white peda again.. #Budget2017
— Man of Justice (@SuperGops) February 1, 2017
Lok Sabha TV scoop #Budget2017 pic.twitter.com/x9YOyKZCXR
— Anand Katakam (@anandkatakam) February 1, 2017
"Ya Allah Madad" #Budget2017 pic.twitter.com/LXxdQX66P6
— Akshay Jain (@ComedyBanda) February 1, 2017
We may see considerable growth in tweets and facebook posts #Budget2017
— Mohamed ismail (@I_am_ismail_) February 1, 2017
***
One of the first things about Budget 2017 — as February 1 dawned — was uncertainty, because sitting MP and former Union minister E Ahamed had died at 2.15 am on Wednesday. He had suffered a cardiac arrest in the Parliament House on Tuesday.
Breaking: question mark over budget after sitting MP E Ahmed passes away. LS speaker to take final decision
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) February 1, 2017
As it became clear that the government was going ahead with the Budget presentation, leaders from Opposition parties started protesting.
This was an inhuman act: Mallikarjun Kharge,Congress on allegations that #EAhamed 's death announcement was delayed
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 1, 2017
Haan Parampara to yahi(house adjourned) rahi hai, lekin ye sarkar Parampara ka nirwahan nahi karti: Naresh Agarwaal,SP #EAhamed pic.twitter.com/GsQSbpztwl
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 1, 2017
There was no need to go to the President with the budget, what is the hurry?Shows mentality of Govt.Surprising: HD Deve Gowda #EAhamed pic.twitter.com/nmvcvMlWoK
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 1, 2017
I offer my condolences; #budget2017 shouldn't be presented today: Lalu Prasad #EAhamed pic.twitter.com/2XVoZSvhH7
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 1, 2017
