Just in | The Finance Minister flattered me by quoting the same couplet from Tirukkural that I had recited in one of my early budget speeches: #PChidambaram

- @fewcan reports.
#Budget2021

She deceived those who were listening to her speech, especially the MPs, who had no clue that she had imposed cesses on a large number of products including #petrol and #diesel: Rs 2.50/litre on petrol; Rs 4.00/litre on diesel is a cruel blow to the average citizen & farmers: PC

She did not mention #Defence at all, as if the Chinese had vacated occupied Indian territory. She did not mention that Defence expenditure in 2021-22 will see no rise: #Chidambaram

#Budget2021

Tax reliefs completely bypass the tax-paying working-class and tax-paying middle class, says #Chidambaram. @fewcan reports. #Budget2021

As expected, the Finance Minister has paid special attention to election-bound states. She announced large capital outlays for Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Assam: PC. #Budget2021

A good 40 minutes before she read paragraph 141 of her speech, Bloomberg put out the FD and RD numbers for 2020-21! Since the CBI is underworked, it is a matter they can look into, Mr. #Chidambaram says sarcastically. #Budget2021

On the 10 point test that we had suggested on 28th January, the Budget fails on most points. It barely passes on one point: PC. #Budget2021

The FM stated a mind-boggling figure of ₹223,846 cr. for Health, a breathtaking “rise” from the Estimate of ₹94,452 cr. It was a conjurer’s trick. She added the one-time cost of vaccination (₹35,000 cr.) and the Finance Commission grants amounting to ₹49,214 cr: #Chidambaram.

She (Finance Minister) also included the allocations to the Department of Water and Sanitation. Shorn of these add-ons, the allocations for Health were ₹72,934 in 2020-21 and ₹79,602 crore in 2021-22, says #PChidambaram. @fewcan reports. #Budget2021