Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday presented his fifth straight Union Budget in the Lok Sabha with a speech that lasted almost two hours.
He was greeted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon after he completed his speech, which went on for one hour and 50 minutes.
The Prime Minister was often seen vigorously thumping the desk, prompting his Cabinet colleagues and NDA MPs to follow suit. Mr. Modi also kept encouraging his Finance Minister.
The loudest thumping of desk by the Prime Minister was witnessed when Mr. Jaitley spoke about the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Scheme, which was followed by his announcement of the National Health Protection scheme to cover 10 crore poor and vulnerable sections.
The 66-year old Finance Minister, who was wearing a grey kurta and a black Nehru coat, read out his speech by sitting in his seat after delivering the address standing for 25 minutes. In the last few minutes, Mr. Jaitley again rose and completed his speech.
Mr. Jaitely’s wife Sangeeta and son Rohan were present at the Speaker’s gallery to witness his Budget presentation.
He was also greeted by his Cabinet colleagues, including Sushma Swaraj, Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari after the Budget presentation.
However, no Opposition leader came to greet him, barring suspended BJD leader Baijayanta J. Panda, who also shook hands with the Prime Minister twice.
Rahul in small talk with Jyotiraditya Scindia
Congress president Rahul Gandhi was often seen engaged in small talk with Jyotiraditya Scindia and Kamal Nath in the entire Budget speech.
Mr. Gandhi, who came just after the proceedings commenced, left for a brief period but was back before the Budget speech ended.
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M. Thambidurai, Congress Leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh and other Opposition leaders were present during the Budget presentation.
Chandrakant Khaire, MP of Shiv Sena which had announced that it would go solo in the 2019 Lok Sabha and State Assembly polls, walked up to Mr. Jaitley and greeted him.
A number of Rajya Sabha members were also seen in the gallery meant for members of the Upper House.
Among those present were Majeed Memon (NCP), Rajeev Chandrashekar (Independent), Naresh Gujral (SAD), Swapan Dasgupta (Nominated), D. Raja (CPI), Vinay Sahrasabuddhe (BJP) and Parimal Nathwani (Independent).
Mr. Jaitely was the star attraction of the day. He was in his seat well before the House convened for the day. The Lok Sabha staff provided him with a lapel microphone.
Before the Budget presentation, Mr. Jaitely greeted BJP veteran L.K. Advani and shared a smile. Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath walked up to Mr. Jaitely and greeted him.
The Treasury benches were almost packed but there were a few empty seats in the Opposition benches.
As the Finance Minister kept speaking of the 2022 target for full the implementation of several schemes, Mr. Kharge interrupted him saying whether Mr. Jaitley was reading the Budget speeech for 2018-19 or 2022.
But an unperturbed Mr. Jaitley kept reading his speech, ignoring the Opposition barbs.
However, when Mr. Jaitley was announcing the relief to Medium Small and Micro Enterprises, the Opposition raised a hue and cry, stating that concessions were being given to the corporates. Mr. Jaitley hit back asking, “Madam [Speaker], are they objecting to any concession to the MSMEs?”
An attentive Shatrughan Sinha
BJP MP and former film actor Shatrughan Sinha, who has been vociferous in his criticism of the Modi government, was seen patiently listening to the Budget speech.
Mr. Sinha was also seen engaged in small talk with his party colleague from Bollywood Hema Malini, who was sitting in the fourth row but across the aisle.
Mr. Advani was seen dressed in navy blue safari and sporting a cap of the same colour. He entered the House five minutes before 11 a.m. when the proceedings began.
Mr. Jaitley was already sitting in his seat. As Mr. Advani walked up to occupy his seat, Mr. Jaitley greeted him. But oblivious to it, Mr. Advani was accepting greetings from senior BJP MP Shanta Kumar and Union Minister Pon. Radhakrishnan. As Mr. Advani took his seat next to Mr. Jaitley, the veteran leader smiled and had a brief talk, while the Finance Minister was seen dabbing the BJP’ veteran’s hands.
Several MPs, mostly from the BJP, were seen in colourful and wide-ranging headgears. Urban Development and Housing Minister Hardeep Singh Puri wore a lavender turban matching his jacket, while SAD’s Prem Singh Chandumajra and AAP’s Bhagwant Mann stuck to their regular saffron and yellow colours respectively.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Afairs Arjun Singh Meghwal wore a saffron and green pagdi while Sakshi Maharaj was in his regular saffron headgear.
