The Hindu : National : It is aye all the way for concessions on two dishes

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Wednesday, Mar 01, 2006

National

National

It is aye all the way for concessions on two dishes

From Shahrukh Khan to Swami Vivekananda and Thoreau, Union Finance Chidambaram traverses a long way

— Photo: R. V. Moorthy

FAMILY IN TOW: Finance Minister P. Chidambaram's wife Nalini Chidambaram along with her daughter-in-law Srinidhi and son Kartik on way to Parliament House in New Delhi on Tuesday.

New Delhi: From Shahrukh Khan to Swami Vivekananda, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Tuesday appeared to have traversed a long distance from cinema to spirituality as he presented his third consecutive budget.

The man who sought to instil confidence with King Khan's Main Hoon Na over two years ago, this time quoted Swami Vivekananda to exhort the nation on the path of destiny.

"We reap what we sow. We are the makers of our own fate. The wind is blowing; those vessels whose sails are unfurled catch it, and go forward on their way, but those which have their sails furled do not catch the wind. Is that the fault of the wind? ... We make our own destiny," he quoted the saint as saying.

Quoting Thoreau, he said, "If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them."

Though the harsh realities of guiding one of the world's largest economies may have had its impact, Mr. Chidambaram continues to be inspired by his favourite poet-philosopher Saint Tiruvalluvar.

"Karumam sidhaiyamal kannodullavarku, urimai udaithu iv ulagu (The world is his who does his job with compassion)," the Finance Minister recalled the savant's words uttered 2,000 years ago.

* * *

Unlike in the past, he did not make any laudatory references to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who was among the first to reach the House.

Mr. Chidambaram, however, attributed the phenomenal growth in various sectors to the "political message conveyed by the National Common Minimum Programme and the perceptive leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh."

* * ***

At least one proposal will not have to wait for a vote.

Mr. Chidambaram's announcement that he was reducing the excise duty on dosa and idli mix from 16 per cent to 8 per cent won instant approval.

MPs cutting across party and geographical confines cheered the reduction of duty on the two south Indian dishes.

Even Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, whose State West Bengal has a distinct liking for fish, was forced to comment: "Very popular dishes, it seems."

Members from Gujarat, while welcoming the concession, wondered why the same could not be extended to "dhokla," a dish which is popular all over the country.

* * *

The former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, appeared a forlorn figure as he sat alone away from his usual position in the front row.

While Leader of the Opposition, L.K. Advani, sat glancing through the budget papers from his designated seat in the front row, Mr. Vajpayee chose to sit in the third row.

Dr. Singh and Ms. Gandhi heard the Finance Minister in rapt attention and occasionally thumped the desk.

Rahul Gandhi sat with the Congress youth brigade, including Sachin Pilot, Naveen Jindal, Milind Deora and Sandeep Dikshit.

* * *

Mr. Chidambaram read his speech in the presence of his lawyer-wife Nalini, son Karthik, daughter-in-law Srinidhi and some other family members.

Besides, as many as 60 people from his constituency, Sivaganga, had been given passes to the visitors' gallery.

Among the Rajya Sabha members, who sat through the speech, were Natwar Singh, B.J. Panda, M.S. Gill and Rajeev Shukla, besides some foreign envoys.

* * *

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, who was discharged on Monday from the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences where he was admitted for chest infection, showed little signs of fatigue and appeared to enjoy the Budget speech.

He also shared the exuberance of the members and pitched in with a comment or two.

* * *

Mr. Chatterjee, who has earned the reputation of a strict disciplinarian, was at his genial best. "No running commentary. ... It does not look nice. ... The whole country is watching you; give your suggestions during the debate," were his frequent suggestions, though in a light-hearted manner.

Earlier, as soon as the Speaker entered the House, he was greeted with "Jai Shri Ram" and "Vanakkam" from both the Opposition and Treasury benches. Expressing his feeling of gratitude to the members for their concern, Mr. Chatterjee said he was "deeply touched."

— PTI, UNI

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