Budget 2019: Key quotes of FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Union Budget 2019 speech was stern and grave, coupled with sprinkles of humours and 'shayaris'. Her speech resonated belief, conviction and determination. Here are some of the key quotes from the speech that lasted for 2 hours and 15 minutes, making it probably the longest Budget speech ever delivered in independent India's history.

Grameen Bharat

"The soul of India lives in its villages." Nirmala Sitharaman quoted Mahatma Gandhi to explain that the government will focus on the improvement of the villages as therein lies the backbone of this country.

Agriculture and energy

"Annadatta kyu urja datta nahi ban sakte (Why can't the one providing food become a provider of energy)?", she said whiletalking about giving a boost to agriculture and renewable energy in the same bracket.

The election mandate

"Majboot desh ke liye majboot nagrik (Strong citizens for a strong nation)," she saidtalking about the NDA's performance and the mandate it received in the recently concluded elections.

Quote of Swami Vivekananda

"There is no chance of the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved. It is not possible for a bird to fly on one wing." She quoted Swami Vivekananda to drive home the significance of women empowerment. She said that India can make greater progress with women participation.

Time for a Tamil tale

In the middle of her Budget speech, Nirmala Sitharaman narrated a small Tamil story.“I find wisdom in a line from Purananooru which a Sangam time Tamil literature piece is. This is about a land where elephants gets into it and the line was sung to King Pandian Arivudainambi by Pisiranthaiyaar. The meaning of the line is that just aa few mounts of rice from paddy would be sufficient for an elephant. But what if the elephant itself enters into the field and start eating?It will eat far lesser than what it will trample with its foot."

She said the tale to explainthatthe government does not intend to 'trample' anybody like the elephant.Government will spendRs.100 lakh crores for infrastructure in next five years.

Bold and brave

"The time is right for India to enter aviation finance and leasing. Connectivity is at the heart of development. We do not look down upon legitimate profit-making. Gone are the days of policy paralysis and Licence Raj. Indian firms are wealth creators," she said while talking about the earlier practices regarding license distribution and giving a blueprint of the way ahead.

Even Chanakya was there. Well, it's a Budget speech after all

She quoted Chanakya in her Budget speech, ""Kaarya purusha kare na lakshyam sampa dayate." This means , Anytask can be completed with sheer determination. She was suggesting that the dream of becoming a $5 trillion economy if the nation under the leadership of Narendra Modi works hard with determination.

The dream of trillion

While delivering theUnion Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said,"It took India 55 years to reach a $1 trillion economy. When hearts are with hopes and aspirations, we added $1 trillion in just five years. The common man was served even when transformational reforms were laid out. We have to invest heavily in infrastructure. Citizens felt the difference in every nook and corner. Our focus has been mazboot desh ke liye mazboot nagrik (strong citizens for a strong nation)."

A bit of 'shayari'

She even recited an Urdu couplet written by Urdu poet Manzoor Hashmi:'Yakeen ho to koi raasta niklata hai, hawa ki ot(protection) bhi le kar charagh jalta hai'. A rought translation: Belief will help to find a way, a candle burns despite the resistanceof breeze.

The hope for a 'New India'

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman opened her speech by saying that the recent election was charged with brimming home and desire for a bright and stable 'New India'. Voter turnout was highest; every section came to stamp their approval for performing.