SWADESHI BUDGET 1998-99 - REALITY VS RHETORIC

The Budget 1998-99 has been termed a 'swadeshi' budget primarily becau se (a) it is a budget by the BJP which has been projecting 'nationalis tic' sentiments, of course without disclosing 'whose nation' they are trying to protect, (b) customs duties are up by 8 per cent, and (c) in surance sector awaits Indian entrepreneurs, and the NRIs are being woo ed through PIO cards so that they feel more at home with their homelan d. But it is ironical that right after presenting the 'swadeshi' budge t, the government had To succumb to the Suzuki pressure and give up it s claims in exchange for the withdrawal of the arbitration proceedings by,Suzuki.