The Hindu : National : Number-crunching is child’s play for Pranab Mukherjee

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Number-crunching is child’s play for Pranab Mukherjee

Anita Joshua

NEW DELHI: Firmly in the saddle instead of stepping in for someone, as was the case when he presented the interim budget in February, the punctilious Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday allowed himself some liberties — including a couple of quotations, a dig at Home Minister P. Chidambaram and a fleeting trace of theatrics — while delivering his budget speech.

Having done this job 25 years ago, Mr. Mukherjee was on familiar ground and his familiarity with number-crunching was evident as he reeled out multi-crore figures without a hiccup. The task this time round was probably made easier because he had actually drawn out the parameters for this budget in the interim budget itself.

Though this was the first budget after the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance was returned to power, Mr. Mukherjee — ever mindful of the need to ensure smooth running of the House — made no attempt whatsoever to rub salt into the wounds of the Opposition.

He did make a reference to the mandate; but only to interpret it as a vote for inclusive and equitable growth and see it as a reflection of a “population that is restless, yet engaged and is ready to seize the opportunities that it is presented with.” And, the Opposition reciprocated by hearing him out.

The budget speech, however, reflected the changed equations within the ruling coalition and its support structure. West Bengal was the clear beneficiary. It was promised an additional allocation of Rs.1,000 crore to deal with Cyclone Aila; much to the chagrin of Bihar members who were upset at the absence of any special package for the Kosi flood-affected. This resulted in a walkout by Bihar members in the Opposition under the leadership of Sharad Yadav (Janata Dal-United) after Mr. Mukherjee wrapped up his speech.

Describing his chance to present the regular budget after unveiling the interim budget 140 days ago as a “rare honour,” Mr. Mukherjee was his professorial self when he explained, at the outset itself, that a single budget speech cannot solve all problems, nor is the Union budget the only instrument to do so.

The mantle of an academic was something that he donned time and again over the next 100 minutes; particularly when he referred to the demands by the corporate sector for reduction in tax rates and explained his rationale for not upsetting the apple cart.

But his academic bearing did not stop him from resorting to a very child-like gesture — marking out every sentence he read with his forefinger to ensure that he did not mix up his lines. Still, Mr. Mukherjee skipped two paragraphs — the reference to welfare of minorities — and had to be told by officials of the miss.

Not only did he borrow quotations — twice from Kautilya and once from Mahatma Gandhi — to embellish his speech, Mr. Mukherjee sought to amuse his audience with a few attempts at humour. He also resorted to a bit of drama, reaching for a glass of water just ahead of the segment on tax proposals and making a point about it.

Fearing that increased Customs duty on gold and silver may have endangered his popularity with women, the Minister sought to redeem himself by exempting branded jewellery from Excise duty. And, announcing a service tax on legal consultancy, he openly differed with Mr. Chidambaram’s contention that legal consultants do not provide any service, drawing a smile from the Home Minister.

Not one to be lulled into the comfort zone in the absence of instant criticism of his budget, Mr. Mukherjee signed off with a word of caution about the uncertainties that lay ahead. “As we begin this five- year journey, the road ahead will not be easy,” he said but went on to add that there was no option but to weather the odds and create a “brave new India of our dreams.”

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