The Hindu : BJP moves to shrug off Budget hangover

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 11, 2003

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BJP moves to shrug off Budget hangover

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI MARCH 10. As the harsh truth about the so-called dream Budget of the Union Finance Minister is slowly sinking in, an increasing restlessness and disappointment is perceptible among leaders and cadres of the Delhi BJP.

Sensing the situation, senior leaders have now decided to first update their own cadres about the implications of the budgetary proposals to turn around the mood of despondency.

In fact, the thinking is slowly emerging within the party that the Budget proposals have not been up to their expectations and have the potential to cause unease among the middle and salaried classes.

But what is giving sleepless nights to the Delhi BJP and its leaders is the constant hammering home of an imminent increase in LPG cooking gas prices by the Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Ram Naik. There is strong resentment among the BJP leaders and cadres over Mr. Naik's repeated assertions that an LPG hike is going to take place any time.

``Even if there is going to be a hike, what is the need for Mr. Naik to go around stating this time and again and putting the onus on the Union Finance Minister, Jaswant Singh, to provide some relief?

These matters should be discussed at the party level and then only some decision should be announced. But Mr. Naik is bent upon creating problems for the BJP. He had mishandled the situation during the CNG controversy and had handed over the entire issue on a platter to the Delhi Government," remarked a senior leader. "Instead of the Centre getting the credit for the good work, it was the Sheila Dikshit Government which got accolades.''

The BJP leadership is wary of any hike in LPG rates as this is bound to have an adverse impact on the middle and salaried class that form the main vote bank of the party. A similar hike in LPG prices last year had led to the rout of the BJP in the MCD elections in the Capital and that ghost still haunts the party which is trying painstakingly to re-build and position itself for the November Assembly polls.

As for the Union Budget, the initial euphoria has given way to scepticism and a realisation is coming that not all is well with the so-called progress oriented and dream budget. The Delhi BJP leadership organised a meeting at the party office recently to set things right and educate the cadres and others about the positive points of the budget.

But that seemed to have made little impact, as the ground realities are rather different. "The demands made by the BJP with regard to income tax relief, increase in exemption levels and some other related issues have not been addressed to by the Finance Minister which is a matter of great concern for the party,'' another leader remarked.

In fact, the BJP is already preparing itself to defend the Union Budget with whatever little finer points its has for the salaried or the middle class. "The party will bring out a booklet on the positive steps announced in the budget and this would be circulated at the block and district levels for the benefit of the party leaders at the grassroots so that they are able to convey the right message to the masses,'' remarked BJP office secretary, Jagdish Mamgain.

He said a number of demands of the party with regard to revival of LTC, enhancement in standard deduction and keeping intact the housing loan benefit have been included in the Union Budget.

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