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The Finance Minister is trying to address macroeconomic issues with his Budget. Yet, there is slipping on the agriculture front.

Where is the course correction he is talking about?

The worst-case scenario would be the country importing even essential food and commodities. By all indication, the economy is over-heating and the Minister has attempted to apply the brake.

The Minister should think of eliminating the Central and other a host of other sales tax and combine service tax and sales tax in a Goods and Services Tax, and levy a uniform 7-10 per cent tax. Food items can be excluded.

Sooner rather than later we should give up all "nomenclature of taxes and have only one structure".

It is sad that the Raja Chelliah report should be gathering dust.

Certainly, the Budget is short of imagination and innovation.

Rajesh Padmanabhan

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