You are part of the growth process is Budget message: FM

New Delhi, Feb 28 (UNI) ''You are part of the growth process'' is the message of Budget 2007-08, says Finance Minister P Chidambaram, seeking to equate it with his dream Budget of 1997.

If the dream of 1997 was to tell the world that India had joined them shouldering the responsibility of a rising economic power, the dream now was to reassure the people of India that all sections of society were part of the growth process which was clocking at a scorching pace of over eight per cent, Mr Chidambaram said addressing the post-Budget press conference.

Asked to rate today's Budget on a scale of one to five or one to ten and compare it with his dream Budget, he initially sought to laugh it off saying that the upper limits of five and ten came in the way.

However, he went on to explain that Budgets could not be compared with one another as each Budget was made in a particular political and economic context and it was up to the media to give it a rating.

The Minister said all efforts would be made to sustain the growth momentum by ensuring adequate investment. Also, the government would not be found wanting in taking additional steps to curb inflation.

UNI