My knowledge about Economics was fuzzy for a long time and even today, consider myself no expert. But even I was shocked by the absurdity of the sham that was the Budget 2008!
P. Chidambaram says "the budget will stimulate growth and investment" and his boss, the honourable Dr. Manmohan Singh calls it an "outstanding budget". The latter has a doctorate in Economics, so I guess the ordinary man is not supposed to question his credentials. But how does one manage to say such things with conviction after deciding to simply write off an incredible Rs. 60,000 crore?!! Either these men must be geniuses who deserve this year's Nobel Prize for Economics or, simply, people who are willing to sell the country down the river just for the sake of remaining in power.
I am tired of hearing people say what a nice gentleman our Prime Minister is, how he shines through in a Cabinet dominated by petty politicians etc. But a leader and, more importantly a patriot, is someone who has not only knowledge, but the vision and the strength to go against the flow and take tough decisions irrespective of electoral gains. Not someone willing to so shamelessly pander to the wishes of an ignorant and power-hungry bunch of colleagues and political allies!
A man has to be judged by his actions and not by reputation. History, in all probability, will judge Manmohan Singh as the man who presided over a government that presented a Budget that was shocking for the sheer audacity with which it has attempted to fool the people of this country! It will be ironical for a man who was instrumental in liberalising the economy and putting the country on the growth path.
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