Budget to hit industry hard -- Bengal minister
West Bengal's Left Front government said the Union budget does not provide a clue to a solution for any of the "burning" problems facing the country.

Sinha finetunes it on his fourth attempt
Every year during the run-up to the Union Budget, the principal players in the capital markets and bourses make such strident demands for concessions and hand-outs from Raisina Hill that there is a general sense of overkill, as viewed by the average citizen.

Hit the roads, says Sinha, with 93% fund hike
FM has left his Cabinet colleague Mamata Banerjee to fend for herself while financing the railway Plan, he has made adequate provisions for financing the Prime Minister's pet road projects.


  Sinha cuts interest rate, sets stage for exit policy
  Sensex vaults 177 points
  Predicted -- Higher rate of growth, lower inflation
  Tax reforms -- Sinha sets the ball rolling
  His own report card
  Party time in Parliament Hall
  Three slabs of SED reduced to single rate of 16%
  Desi is the mantra -- 180% customs on used cars
  Sinha kicks surcharges out
  Govt targets 4% lower market borrowing
  Budgetary support up 16 %
  Broom wielded further on services
  Outlay increased to Rs 22,570 cr
  Slew of incentives for states
  Excise hike -- Oil pool to bear the brunt
  Auto sector gets relief
  Tax holiday for core projects
  10-year tax holiday for setting up special zones
  Key Proposals
  Top View r seshasayee
  Top View A C Muthiah
  Top View Suresh Neotia
  Briefs
  Top View Ravi bhoothalingam
  Highlights
  Top View adi godrej
  Budget is very investor-friendly
  `Perhaps more could have been done on the expenditure front'
  Top View km birla
  Sinha's Budget is in the category of Manmohan's 1991 one
  No measures to restore investor confidence
  Policy again dons the reform mantle
  Grit and guts make for a bold and cheerful Budget
  Sinha deftly walks the reforms tightrope