Scenes in the Lok Sabha during presentation of the General Budget by Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday were quite in contrast with that witnessed two days ago when the Railway Budget was tabled in the House.

There was no din and pandemonium as the opposition National Democratic Alliance apparently took a break from creating uproar over the Quattrocchi issue, which they have been doing ever since the Budget Session started on Friday.

Bharatiya Janata Party-led opposition members sat through the 90-minute speech by Chidambaram, though raising objections occasionally over certain proposals of the General Budget.

The finance minister's proposals for raising education cess specifically evoked vociferous criticism from the opposition with NDA members questioning what was there in store for aam aadmi (common man).

Opposition members, especially from the Shiv Sena, shouted that Chidambaram had nothing to offer to farmers, who have been committing suicides because of crushing debts.

Criticising their behaviour, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee told agitated members to take their seats as they would get full opportunity to discuss the issue.

"This is extremely unfortunate. This is not proper behaviour," he remarked.

The opposition also shouted in disapproval as Chidambaram mentioned that the United Progressive Alliance had fulfilled its promises.

The family of the finance minister sat in the visitors' gallery as he read out his Budget proposals in the Lok Sabha.