Half baked facts about Union budget

‘History repeats first as a tragedy and then as a comedy’: is a good adage. This comedic episode recurs every year in our country with the presentation of the Union budget. The budget is growth oriented, non-inflationary, and people friendly, is the comment of treasury bench politicians. Nevertheless it is it is inflationary, growth-stunning, and anti-people for opposition parties. Both ruling Front and the Opposition present half-baked facts about the budget in their panel discussions.

There are many good proposals in the budget especially for the rural folk and the salaried class; however the hike in petrol-diesel price is a big handicap. The present budget proposals would make price rise in all sectors, if not effectively checked.

Kerala Finance Minster Thomas Isaac has strong apprehensions about the blow by the Union budget upon the people of Kerala. One hopes that Isaac will take deterrent measures such as avoiding additional excise duty on petroleum products and shield the State from the adverse impact of the Union budget. It is time for Isaac to prove his econometric skill through his State budget to lessen the hardships of Keralaites.

K A Solaman