Union Budget 2017: Reactions from politicians and ministers

B S Yeddyurappa, State BJP President
It's a historic and progressive budget. Without burdening common man the union government has found out new means to mobilize resources. For the first time, Rs 10 lakh crore has been earmarked for the agriculture sector which will help in doubling the income of farmers in next five years. Focusing on rural development, the government has reserved Rs 1.9 lakh crore and Rs 48,000 crore for MGNREGA. Relief has been given to common people in income tax. Restricting donation to political parties from Rs 20,000 to Rs 2,000 is a welcome step. In whole the budget is 'Sab Ke Sath-Sab Ka Vikas"

H.N. Ananth Kumar, Union Minister for Fertilzer and Parliamentary Affairs
The budget is futuristic and pro-poor. It is based on the concept of welfare of the garib, dalit, peedit, shoshit, vanchit, kisan, shramik, mahila and yuva. The budget has special impetus on welfare measures of the farming community which is evident from the fact that the target for agricultural credit in 2017-18 has been fixed at a record level of Rs. 10 lakh crores.  The focus remains on the rural spending and fifty thousand Gram Panchayats are targeted to be made poverty-free besides extending the facility of interest waivers for farmers for another two months".

D V Sadananda Gowda, Union Minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation
The budget has met the expectations of people especially after demonetisation. Impetus had been given on digitalisation aiming at eradicating the corruption. Equal importance has been given to all core sectors and more so to agriculture. A good beginning has been made to create more jobs though launching of new schemes. The budget is like a permit for a good economic growth.

H.D. Kumaraswamy, State president, JD(S)
Clubbing the two budgets and presenting it as one is the only achievement. . It is an anti-poor budget with no programmes for farmers, no clarity on jobs creation for youngsters. People expected money to be deposited in Jan Dhan accounts, which didn’t happen either. A disappointing budget.

Ravi Shankar Prasad
There is a big  digital push in this Budget ... From expanding the optical fibre support system to Digi Gaon ... To using digital connect in a big way for taking 50,000 gram panchayats out of poverty

Nitish Kumar
I heard finance minister Arun Jaitley’s nearly two-hour-long speech with the expectation that he would say something concrete on black money or assistance to Bihar, but nothing    came.

Anand Sharma
The budget is lacking in direction and has no proposals for accelerating manufacturing or job creation. This budget has deeply disappointed everyone —be it the investors, farmers or youth