Chidambaram's post-Budget Google+ Hangout

Just a few years back, common man never had any enthusiasm in the union government's annual budget sessions. Fortunately the situation has changed today largely due to the penetration of media and massive urbanisation that led to the rise of the new middle class. A common man today closely monitors the annual budget session mainly to find out how the budget affects his/her spending power. It is a clear sign of a maturing democracy, a clear signal that more and more people are becoming politically aware and responding to it. I am attaching the Budget video for those of you who have not watched it.

I must say Budget-2013 was a balanced budget despite my obvious political inclinations. Though many of Mr. Chidambaram's numbers look unreal it can be called a balanced budget considering the profligacy and directionless budgets we have witnessed during the last 9 years of UPA rule. Chidambaram simply had no elbow room to resort to profligacy because the global investors and credit-rating agencies were watching him closely.

Chidambaram's Google+ Hangout four days after the budget session is a welcome development. It only reflects the rise of the aspirational middle class and the importance of social media in political discourse. It provided a platform for people from different sections of society to talk to Chidambaram directly about the budget. This is clearly a good sign considering the otherwise insensitive UPA government. The government should use such platforms to interact with people directly.

I still feel this UPA government and especially Chidambaram since he is the Finance Minister lack new ideas to bring India back to its true potential. As a result, countrymen have to turn to Narendra Modi for new ideas and inspiration. Only the lion from Gujarat can let loose the animal spirits of our economy.





Note: Watch both the Budget-2013 video and Google+ Hangout video attached with this blog.