Union Budget 2016-17: From Lalu Prasad to Shatrughan Sinha, who said what?

New Delhi: As expected, the Opposition on Monday slammed the General Budget presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitely in Parliament today and termed it 'plain' and 'unimaginative'.

"It is a tinkering budget without breakthroughs. There is hardly any relief for Aam Aadmi (common man) in this budget. Overall, Budget 2016 is uninventive and uninspiring," JD(U) said.

"They have been talking about development of agriculture, farmers but nothing concrete seen in Budget 2016", party chief Nitish Kumar said today.

RJD chief Lalu Yadav doubted the announcement made by Jaitely in Parliament today over doubling the income of Indian farmers as he asserted, "PM Narendra Modi said he will double the income of farmers by 2022. But what is the guarantee?"

"By promising to double the income by 2022, they want to secure their berth till then, however their government will fall by 2019," Lalu added.

In an exclusive reaction given to NDTV, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, "The government has unveiled a mixed bag Budget with no big idea." Singh also said the government's announcement that farmers' income would be doubled in the next five years is an impossible idea.

While CPI National Secretary D Raja said there is nothing spectacular in this budget, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge mentioned that there is nothing in this Budget for anybody other than corporates close to the ruling government.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has made the opposition's job a bit tougher with his general budget not focused on the affluent of the nation. "By not focusing the benefits of #UnionBudget2016 on the #suitboot people Arun Jaitley has cleverly made the opposition`s job a bit tougher," Abdullah tweeted in his first reaction to the union budget.

Aam Aadmi Party senior leaders Manish Sisodia and Ashutosh also expressed their reactions on the Budget 2016 through their tweets.

"My 1st reaction to union budget : financial injustice to Delhi continues - no change in share in central taxes. Will speak in detail later," AAP leader and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia tweeted.

Ashutosh tweeted, "Where are Dalits, backwards and minorities in this budget ??"

Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande said that the General Budget proposals for fiscal 2016-17 will be a test for the NDA government, as the nation has high expectations from it. Kayande also cautioned the ruling government to be ready to face a backlash from the Opposition on the Budget.

Meanwhile, BJP veteran Lal Krishna Advani dubbed the General Budget for 2016-17 presented by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Parliament as the best ever, saying it has the potential to boost India's economic growth with employment generation while reducing social imbalances.

"Have seen many budgets being presented in Parliament, the one presented by Finance Minister Jaitley today is certainly one of the best budget so far. Budget 2016 has potential to boost India's economic growth with employment generation, while reducing social imbalances," Advani said.

Another BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha, who is known to speak his heart out and has often taken a position at variance with the party's stand, this time came to the support of the government. "I am not a budget expert, but I do agree that the Union Budget 2016-17 is a good one. I haven't seen a focus on education, defense so far. However, I have to go through its fine print before commenting," he said.