Terming the Interim Budget as a reflection of UPA government's faith in "faster and more inclusive growth", Home Minister P Chidambaram today 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 per cent in 2008-09," Chidambaram, who was shifted from Finance to Home in November last year following 26/11 Mumbai strikes, said.
