Captains of the industry, particularly the outgoing chairman of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry Harsh Pati Singhania, who is also the managing director of JK Paper Mill, hailed the Union Budget.
At places, he thought the Budget that Finance Minister Pranab Muherjee presented in the Parliament on Friday was more than what Ficci could have asked for. "There is a big jump in the personal taxation plan", he said.
The new Ficci president-elect Rajan Bharti Mittal was critical of Mukherjee taxing the mobile sector. "I wish they had not burdened this sector", he said.
S K Roongta of Steel Authority of India Limited said he would be able to produce more cement than most of the countries in the Asian region.
Shivinder Singh, managing director, Fortis Healthcare, was of the opinion that the finance minister could have done something more. "But, as a businessman I thought Mukerjee has done well," he said.
Asked to comment on how the finance minister virtually went on his knees asking the Opposition to let him continue his speech, Singh refused to reply. "I do not want to speak about the political development", he said. .
The way Amit Mitra handled the event was indeed praiseworthy, said a Ficci official. Mitra was elated by people's appreciation.
Budget presentation having come to a close, it was time for him to relax.
Image: Pranab Mukherjee
