The Forever Scoop

Budget Reactions in Advance!

J. Chacko

Preparation of the Union Budget is so secretive an exercise that nobody, except those who are actually involved in the process, can ever get a clue as to what is coming.  The intrepid reporters of the Indian media have, over the years, been trying to ferret out some information but they have so far miserably failed in their attempts. The Secretariat building where the exercise takes place is kept out of bounds for any outsider, weeks before the Budget day.  The staff involved in the process has to stay put there till the whole exercise is over so that no bits and pieces get leaked.

One enterprising journalist was not ready to give up and hence he decided to interview various political leaders- both from the ruling and the opposition sides so that he could read between the lines and conjure up at least some intelligent guesses on what is in store.

His first attempt was with the Prime Minister himself.  After a lot of efforts he could get him but all his talents could not help him to know anything about the Budget proposals.  Finally the PM conceded to let him know what he would say after the Budget is presented.

“A very progressive Budget indeed.  I complement the Finance Minister and his team for this wonderful job.  With such a Budget, the future of our country looks absolutely bright.”

The full import of these momentous words, waiting to be spoken on the Budget day, was not immediately understood by the journalist.  The PM is after all, the only person other than the Finance Minister, privy to the goings on and hence he can certainly know about the proposals. But he soon realised the significance of what was said by the PM as he interacted with other leaders.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha told him bluntly.  “I do not know anything that is going on.  I can however, give you my reaction to the Budget.”

“Even before it is presented?”

“There is no need for the Budget to be presented or to know about the proposals to react to it. I condemn it as most anti-people, regressive, lacking in vision and ill-conceived.  This will take the nation backward.” 

Next was the leader of a Dravidian Party supporting the Government.  He was very

categorical on what he would proclaim.  “This is the dream Budget everyone was waiting for.  Very progressive and promising.”

Then was the turn of the leader of a Dravidian Party in Opposition. He said that his reactions would be very angry and loud.  “You call this a Budget?  It is not even a leaflet.  We oppose it as anti-people, inflationary and uninspiring.”

The Leader of the ruling party in the Rajya Sabha was quite clear- he would praise it sky high.  “This is the best Budget I have ever seen.  We will scale new heights of glory thanks to the proposals in this.”

The erudite Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha was the next to be approached. He had already chosen the words for the day the Budget would be presented. “Atrocious!  Cruel blow to the people. Insipid.  Lacking in direction. This Budget would take us down the hill.”

The CPM and CPI leaders, both parties supporting the Government, were determined to be most vocal on that future date.  “This Budget is bogus and bankrupt.  Its proposals are anti-people and unjust.  The poor has been badly hit.  We will oppose it tooth and nail.  Our mass protest agitation would start soon.”

“But you are rendering crucial support to this Government.  Then how can you agitate against them?”

‘This is nothing.  We will oppose all the time whether we are in Opposition or are with the Ruling Party. Our duty is to oppose and oppose and we will continue to do so even while supporting the Government.  We will first decide to oppose and then work out what to oppose. If need be, we will even oppose matters proposed by us.”

The journalist was now a very enlightened person.  Even if nothing can be known about the Budget in advance, all its reactions can be known much ahead.  Governments may come and Governments may go but Budget reactions are permanent. After all, where one stands on an issue depends on where one sits, as some wit had correctly said.  The present Prime Minister may be the Leader of Opposition tomorrow and the present Leader of Opposition may be the Prime Minister tomorrow.  The present PM would then react like the present Leader of Opposition and the present Leader of Opposition would react like the present PM.

Budgets are annual but the reactions to them are eternal, so much so, Budget reactions have become another certainty in life, like tax and death.