Dream Budget leaves trail of heat & dust

Aam aadmi ko kya mila? A billion Indians lined up for what promised to be the ultimate common man’s Grand Prix as Palaniappan Chidambaram strapped himself in for the new government’s inaugural roadshow. He revved up his zillion-CMP-power engine...and before you could say NCMP yet another time, whoosh...he disappeared around some tortuous bend in a roaring exhaust of task forces, committees, commissions...and scorch marks on your pocket.

If you’re looking to see if he was mobbed at the rural pitstop, don’t. They’re still hoping for someone to stop by. The UPA government’s budget special zipped past that one with a wave, an outlay, a blueprint and some promises. If you were waiting with the champagne — or even lassi — at the middle class track, put it back in your more expensive fridge. If you’re looking left, don’t, because that’s not the way he went — there’s some leftover caviar scattered around for the
platinum and plasma set: a capital gain here, a branded shirt there, but that’s about it. And if you’re looking for that ‘human face’, it’s somewhat hidden inside an allied helmet.