"At the end of the year, we will do better than the budget estimates," Finance Minister P Chidambaram told reporters when asked about sharp rise in fiscal deficit in April-May as per the figures released by the Comptroller General of Accounts on Monday. The fiscal deficit for two months touched Rs 73,201 crore (Rs 732.01 billion), 54.9 per cent of estimated fiscal deficit of Rs 1,33,287 crore (Rs 1,332.87 billion) for the fiscal, mainly on account of rising oil import bill.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday used her trademark 'bahi-khata', a ledger wrapped in a red-coloured cloth, to carry Budget documents as she arrived in Parliament House to present her third straight Budget. Sitharaman, India's first full-time woman finance minister, had in July 2019 ditched the colonial legacy of a Budget briefcase for the traditional 'bahi-khata' to carry Union Budget papers. She used the same last year and again on Monday.
The Congress leader, who served as Union home minister during November 2008 to July 2012 in the United Progressive Alliance government, was one of the key guests at the inauguration event of CBI headquarters, held on June 30, 2011, in the presence of then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of the agitating unions, is meeting on Sunday to decide on the next course of action, including on the MSP issue and the proposed daily tractor march to Parliament during the upcoming Winter Session, SKM core committee member Darshan Pal said.
Accusing the Union government of using the central agencies to target leaders like former finance minister P Chidambaram and others, Kamal Nath expressed hope that the court will take a right decision in the case.
The Congress leader is also being probed by ED in two separate money-laundering cases of Aircel-Maxis and INX Media.
Other Congress leaders who are learnt to have spoken with Pilot are Ahmed Patel, P Chidambaram and K C Venugopal.
India Inc on Monday said that the Interim Budget was 'absolutely' up to the expectations.
However, the bench said Chidambaram is at a liberty to seek remedy in accordance with the law.
The Congress leader threatened to give a "fitting lesson" in the ensuing elections. "People are watching the excesses of this government," he said.
Manmohan Singh, P Chidambaram and Yashwant Sinha presented 5 Budgets each while Jaswant Singh presented only one Budget.
He termed the situation with China as 'very dangerous' and said India under Modi does not have any clear cut strategy on China, which is testing the country and will not sit silent.
The family sources said that Chidambaram has lost around 8-9 kg since his detention.
Finance Minister P Chidambaram presented the Interim Budget for 2014-15 on Monday.
'Unemployment barely figures in the Budget except as a derived demand from the industry and infrastructure.' 'There is no effort at direct attack on unemployment.'
'Under this government, tax laws have become more draconian, and the government itself is setting stiff, unrealistic targets for tax officials, who have got more powers to harass us,' points out Debashis Basu.
Claiming that Congress is the only party that could act as a "security fort" for minorities, Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday alleged that BJP never bothered about them and always thought it was enough if they got the majority votes.
He did not name the officer but it was Gujarat Indian Police Service officer Satish Verma who probed the case.
The former finance minister's only child was arrested at Chennai airport.
Finance Minister P Chidambaram has ruled out any more sops for the exporters hit hard by the rising rupee, asking them to get used to stronger currency as dollar inflows would continue to grow.
Finance Minister P Chidambaram said on Tuesday the government will continue to take fiscal, monetary and supply side steps to moderate the high inflation rate and will not hesitate to import foodgrains and pulses if need arises.
Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday said it was doubtful whether any key legislation, except for the vote-on-account, would be passed in the current session of Parliament.
Finance Minister of the BRICS countries had also worked on the idea at various deliberations on the sidelines of the Fund-Bank and G-20 meetings, he said.
Watch Home Minister P Chidambaram address the Lok Sabha after blasts killed 9 and injured 45 people outside the Delhi high court at 10:15 am on Wenesday.
The meeting also includes some of Sonia Gandhi's close associates and is the first effort by the Congress leadership for a reproachment with those who raised questions over the leadership.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the party stood united and together as a family and there are no dissensions pending after the announcement of elections to the party chief's post.
Sheela Bhatt recounts the tension, suspense and disruptions during P Chidambaram's interim budget in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
The Congress on Wednesday lauded the armed forces and Indira Gandhi's 'lion-hearted leadership' for India's victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war, with Rahul Gandhi saying it was a time when neighbouring countries recognised the mettle of the Indian prime minister and feared violating our borders.
On a scale of one to five, I can't pick a number above five! And if I had to rate it on a scale of one to ten, I wouldn't be able to pick a number above ten!
Industry captains share their views on the Budget.
The veteran Congress leader said people asked him why only he had been arrested, but he had no answer.
Is the 'caged parrot' at work again, asks Uttam Ghosh.
The 70-year old first time MP, who was admitted to the Apollo Hospitals on August 10 after he tested positive for coronavirus, succumbed to the illness, a party spokesperson said.
He maintained it is not 'hope' but the 'fact' of a stable government provided by UPA and the numerous measures taken in the last 18 months that have provided stability and strength to the Indian economy.
Swiss govt's latest response comes against the backdrop of P Chidambaram shooting off another letter to his Swiss counterpart.
'I accept your invitation to visit Jammu & Kashmir and meet the people, with no conditions attached'
This is Chidambaram's third letter to Swiss Finance Minister Eveline Widmer Schlumpf within four months on this matter.
'Goa is a tiny state, but in terms of its Business of Politics, several powerful lobbies of India are involved in it, be it the mining lobby, hoteliers' lobby, casino lobby, hawala lobby, drugs lobby etc.'
"Articles 15(4) and 16(4) (dealing with provision for socially and educationally backward classes, and reservation) do not put any limit on the percentage of quota and there is no constitutional hurdle in increasing the same," Sharad Pawar said.
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