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Three's lucky for FM!
Was it coincidence or was there some numerology involved? In the 2011-12, the Union Budget presented by Mr Pranab Mukherjee, for all new initiatives, the money allocated started with the figure three.
He announced several new initiatives either worth Rs 300 crore or Rs 30,000 crore.
Well, he soon cleared the air about it, disarmingly admitting that three is his lucky number.
“Honourable members must be wondering why all new projects have been allocated Rs 300 crore. It is because number three is lucky for me,” he said, making everybody in the House laugh.
Interestingly, Mr Mukherjee tabled three budgets between 1982 and 1984. The one tabled on Monday was the third successive for the United Progressive Alliance II Government.
Hedging with the Gods!
Last year, the Finance Minister fervently prayed to Lord Indra for a bountiful monsoon. This year, he invoked another deity too, including Goddesss Lakshmi in his prayers. As he said: “While, like last year, I seek the blessings of Lord Indra to bestow on us timely and bountiful monsoons, I would pray to Goddess Lakshmi as well. I think it is a good strategy to diversify one's risks.
Bonga Bonga Hindi?
After Mamata's recital of Urdu couplets and Hindi songs, it's the turn of Pranab da to try and bridge the Bengali-Hindi divide. In his speech, he announced Rs 10 crore for setting up Kolkata Centre of Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, Wardha. With a Hindi University, the Bongs are getting linguistically ambitious - now it's a matter of mastering the accent!
Cultural preserve
When the FM announced his largesse for private art galleries, twitterati immediately leapt on it, tweeting: “The good thing about having a Bengali FM is that you get tax concessions for art galleries.”
Kings Speech vs FM's Speech
After the King's Speech was crowned best picture at the Oscars, all eyes in India were on the Finance Minister's Speech. Or, as some wag said, given where the controls rest in the ruling party, was it actually the Queen's Speech?
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