`Interim budget reflects govt`s faith in inclusive growth`

New Delhi, Feb 16 (PTI) Terming the interim budget as a
reflection of ruling United Progressive alliance (UPA)
government's faith in "faster and more inclusive growth", Home
Minister P Chidambaram Monday said the focus brought about
unprecedented development since 2004-05 and helped in
navigating the current global slowdown.

Complimenting External Affairs Minister Pranab
Mukherjee, who also holds the charge of Finance Ministry, for
the budget, Chidambaram said "he (Mukherjee) had before him an
unenviable task having to present an interim budget at the end
of a difficult year caused by a global financial crisis.

"It is, however, a matter of satisfaction that the
Indian economy has weathered the global crisis reasonably well
and is expected to post a growth rate of 7.1 percent in
2008-09," Chidambaram, who was shifted from Finance to Home in
November last year following 26/11 Mumbai strikes, said.

Mukherjee's budget speech "captures the exciting story
of growth over the first four years of the UPA Government, the
determination and resilience with which the Government has
navigated the current difficult year; and, above all, the
confidence and the can-do spirit with which we can look
forward to the future," Chidambaram said.

Though the interim budget will "necessarily undergo
change" in the regular budget, he said "what is noteworthy is
that the UPA Government continues to repose faith in its
policy of faster and more inclusive growth, a policy that has
brought unprecedented development and a marked rise in welfare
of all sections of the society since 2004-05". PTI