Nations have their pet events. Ours is the annual budget tamasha conducted in February and culminates in the budget being presented on the last working day of February.
Media orchestrates the build-up. This, however, grips the nation's imagination and life comes to a standstill on the big day. Only a cricket match or a telecast of Ramayana on a Sunday morning could achieve this.
Essentially, a "Statement of Account" of government finances, it has been converted to a "State of Union" address. It is just an exercise in how the pie will be divided up.
The wily politician, a smart businessman and the shrewd bureaucrat grab mouth watering opportunities. The large middle class laps up a few crumbs they get by way of tax sops. The poor get shown the carrot and actually get a kick on their backsides.
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