Some budget speeches have acquired a larger than life image because of unusual circumstances. But as you go through a selection of quotes from budget speeches ranging from Jawaharlal Nehru to Arun Jaitley, you cannot mistake the "commitment" to the Indian farmer and to the agriculture sector. One wonders why Indian agriculture continues to face an existential crisis even after seven decades of "unwavering commitment". Some other budget speeches have been delivered by prime minister's after political upheavals. In 1958-58, the Congress finance minister T. T. Krishnamachari had to resign based on corruption charges and Nehru had to perforce present the budget. In 1969, the Congress split and finance minister Morarji Desai parted ways with Indira Gandhi who had to present the budget. And in 1987, Rajiv Gandhi presented the budget as former loyalist and finance minister V. P. Singh declared a revolt in the aftermath of Bofors. Of course, who can forget Dr. Manmohan Singh quoting Victor Hugo in his 1991 budget speech.
