FM digs at Oppn, despite protests on Nandigram

New Delhi, Mar 16: Finance Minister P Chidambaram during the course of his reply to the Budget debate in the Lok Sabha spared no opportunity to take a dig at the Opposition and several times referred to BJP Deputy leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra by name.

''Although he (Mr Malhotra) is a sports lover, presumably he believes in sportsmanship only on the playground and not in Parliament. Not one word of acknowedgement or praise for a good programme escaped his lips--then and now,'' Mr Chidambaram said, referring to the member's opening of the Budget debate this year and in earlier years.

The Finance Minister said that both in 2004-05 and 2005-06, Mr Malhotra had criticised his Budgets for being anti-poor, anti- middle class, anti-women and anti- farmer.

However, both years ended with high GDP growth.

''The more vehement the criticism, the better the growth story turns out to be. May I, therefore, wish Mr Malhotra-- who has returned as the opening bowler in this year's Budget debate-- many happy returns.

''In the interest of robust and sustained economic growth of the country, may I wish him a long life, many more years in the Opposition and many more speeches opposing the Budget,'' Mr Chidambaram said.

Paradoxically, Mr Chidambaram's entire reply came amid continuous protests from an adamant Opposition demanding the sacking of the West Bengal government over the Nandigram violence.

Referring to the criticism by Mr Satyananarayan Jatia (BJP) that what had been done for the upgradation of ITIs or for the physically challenged or for awarding scholarships amounted to a drop in the ocean.

''I wonder why we are so cynical. A few years ago, there was not even that solitary drop for the physically challenged or for students seeking scholarships, but I do not recall Mr Jatia complaining. I would earnestly plead that we give up the habit of finding fault with every new initiative. A drop in the ocean is better than none,'' he said.

Referring to the oft-repeated criticism relating to customs duty reduction on pet food for dogs and cats, Mr Chidambaram said this was much ado about nothing, adding that one of his predecessors too-- Mr Yashwant Sinha-- shared his love for animals, doing a similar thing in his Budget.

''I love the sea, I love trees, I love birds and I love animals,'' Mr Chidambaram quipped.

UNI