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Full marks to Finance Minister Piyush Goyal for presenting an interim budget that could as well be described as the first draft of the ruling party’s election manifesto. Suffice it say that the political mission of this budget may not be easy to emulate by the opposition. Legally speaking, the budget provisions are valid only until the next government presents a new budget for the fiscal, 2019-20. The reliefs and concessions are offered mainly to small farmers and unorganised workers. Their actual financial impact on the government expenditure is understandably unclear. No going government is expected to impose fresh taxes for the interim period. The indirect taxes are not in Goyal's hand. It is largely regulated by the GST Council. By convention, tax proposals are not announced in interim budgets. Goyal has merely given some small financial sops to tax payers at the bottom. Contrary to the given perception, middle-class gets little from the budget. Other seemingly poll-linked multiple budget concessions to the underprivileged may only mean much higher budget deficit for 2018-19 than estimated in the document.

BHOPAL: Appointment of Rishi Kumar Shukla, MP cadre IPS officer as CBI Chief and state Governor Anandi Ben Patel publicly seeking support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi have caused fierce controversy in the state.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who came to the Trump administration from the Tea Party wing of the Republicans, has announced that the president is suspending U.S. participation in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and is beginning the process of total U.S. withdrawal in six months.

The Lancet, one of the most credible medical journals took up the challenge to study the dietary patterns around the world and then come up with recommendations for a healthy diet. It formed an EAT Lancet Commission for the purpose which had 37 members on it. From our country, a renowned Cardiologist and President of Public Health Foundation of India, Dr. K. Srinath Reddy and Ms. Sunita Narayan - Director General, Centre for Science and Environment and editor of the Down to Earth were the part of this team.

Like its interim budget, which not only echoes the government’s recklessness more than its desperation, the Modi government is contemplating to come out with an interim national sample survey of employment to impress upon the electorates that there has been significant and substantial job creation under Modi’s tenure.

It is really unfortunate that after three years of fiscal prudence, the Narendra Modi government has indulged in profligacy in the interim budget 2019, apparently with an eye on general elections in April and May, which is not good for the economy, already witnessing strained macro-economic situation since 2018.

Self-proclaimed “interim president” Juan Guaidó of Venezuela named a number of “diplomatic representatives” to those countries which have recognized him during the past week. The government of Nicolás Maduro, the actual president of Venezuela, along with its international allies are responding to new U.S. oil sanctions and preparing for possible military intervention.

BHOPAL: Central budget evoked mixed reaction in Madhya Pradesh. While BJP termed it as revolutionary Chief Minister Kamal Nath described it as Jumla. Kamal Nath said it is nothing but election budget. With this the last hope for aachhe din is lost. “The general budget presented today is totally an election budget and will prove to be Jumla and chhalava. The government remembered farmers, the poor, labourers and Gau Mata during the last days of its tenure. The provisions made for farmers are very less compared to what’s required” the CM twitted.

The central trade unions representing both organised and unorganized workers of the country are seething with anger at the step motherly treatment to the entire working class of India in the interim budget of the Modi government presented on February 1. Only the BMS belonging to the BJP hailed in a limited manner the budget proposals but the overwhelming opinion among the trade unions was that the budget has been a disaster for the struggling workers who have been worst hit in the recent years due to the policies of the NDA regime.

Howsoever hard Prime Minister Narendra Modi may try to construct Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya, there appears to be no possibility of the temple coming up before 2019 Lok Sabha elections. That was why the PM has stated that the government would abide by the Supreme Court’s verdict. Meanwhile, the hearing of the apex court is being extended on one pretext or other.