FM Jaitley’s ‘Hinglish’ Budget Speech Sets Twitter Tongues Wagging

Arun Jaitley became the first finance minister to give the Budget speech in Hinglish since Independence.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday, 1 February, presented the last full 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 1 hour 50 minute-long speech.

However, in a break from tradition, Jaitley delivered his Budget speech in Hinglish. According to Deccan Chronicle, sources said the idea was to establish a direct connect with the rural populace.

By delivering the budget speech in Hinglish, Jaitley becomes the first Union Finance Minister to do so since Independence, according to Deccan Chronicle.

The issue has drawn strong criticism on Twitter. While many criticised the move, taking into consideration the south Indian states, many also cited the Hindi speaking population percentage in the country which constitutes a large chunk of the BJP’s vote bank.

Many appreciated the move...

Welcome step by FM @arunjaitley for choosing to speak in an Indian language (#Hindi) along with English in his budget speech while presenting Union Budget 2018. Kudos for doing this. धन्यवाद ! #UnionBudget2018

— इंडिका ɐɔıʇsınƃuıן (@avtansa) February 1, 2018

While a few others called it a poll plank.

Almost 40 mins of the Budget speech focussed on rural economy, poor, agriculture and boosting social secuirty measures. And much of it in Hindi. Polls are no doubt round the corner. @arunjaitley #BudgET2018 @EconomicTimes

— Writankar Mukherjee (@writankarmET) February 1, 2018

A few of them also commented on his cluttered Hindi.

We got this wrong: @arunjaitley delivered the union budget in English (with a smattering of Hindi), now @PMOIndia doing the full Hindi budget speech! Two budget speeches in one day must be a first! 😄@IndiaToday #Budget2018

— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) February 1, 2018

South Indians and non-Hindi speakers were clearly annoyed.

My timeline is full of protests against @arunjaitley delivering the budget speech in Hindi. Do these Lutyens politicians think that the rest of India doesn’t need to follow the budget except their constituencies?

— Ushinor Majumdar (@_Ushinor) February 1, 2018

@arunjaitley @syajaman @ganeshchetan south indian have become second class citizens...why budget speech in Hindi..I don't understand https://t.co/of9jzfhFVn

— Madhu (@Madhu03454874) February 1, 2018

@TimesNow says that FM @arunjaitley will make the Budget speech in Hindi. You know what to expect rest of India? #StopHindiImposition #IndiaNotHindiya #Budget2018 #Hindi

— Oru Uthappam Parcel (@yesbeeyes) February 1, 2018

What is with news about @arunjaitley delivering budget speech in Hindi? India south of Vindhyas to be ignored? It is not as if the FM is comfortable only in Hindi. #Budget2018withBT

— Venkatesha Babu (@venkateshababu) February 1, 2018

@arunjaitley going to address in Hindi at his budget speech and this is complete nonsense. Cow belt is not alone India. @gajendran387 @sumanthraman @Mayavi101 @inclusivemind. And what’s the proud in this bcos @IndiaToday and @sardesairajdeep says it will appeal to all

— Balaji Iyer (@balajireal) February 1, 2018

@arunjaitley read the news that you are going yo break tradition of reading budget document in Hindi to make farmers understand. https://t.co/i0IZmbDWWl minister there are more non-hindi farmers in India than Hindi farmers
We will boycott your budget speech if you choose Hindi

— krushik av (@KrishKrushik) February 1, 2018

The 66-year-old Finance Minister, wearing a grey kurta and black Nehru coat, read out his speech from his seat after delivering the address standing for 25 minutes. In the last few minutes, Jaitley again rose to complete it.

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.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi was often seen engaged in small talk with Jyotiraditya Scindia and Kamal Nath during the speech.

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 HD Deve Gowda, Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and other opposition leaders were also present during the budget presentation.

(With inputs from Deccan Chronicle and PTI)