TARUN DAS
CHIEF MENTOR, CII
The Fringe Benefit Tax abolition is a huge thing for me.
HARSH PATI SINGHANIA
PRESIDENT, FICCI
It was a good balancing job under the circumstances. We wanted money in the hands of the consumers, so the abolition of surcharge on income tax is a step (towards that), along with FBT and CTT abolition.
DILIP CHENOY
DIRECTOR GENERAL, SIAM
The NREGA puts money in the hands of the rural consumer. As far as the industrial sector (is concerned), there is going to be no increase in prices.
RAKESH JHUNJUNWALA
TRADER AND INVESTOR
The fillip that the markets expected from the government did not happen. The negative effect has happened.
KALPANA MORPARIA
CEO, INDIAN OPERATIONS, J P MORGAN
I think the market has overreacted on this. It is almost like a child expecting the parent to return one toy. It has gotten something which is the need of the hour today and said, “I didn't get what I wanted”, and therefore this reaction.
N R NARAYANA MURTHY
NON-EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, INFOSYS
He (finance minister) has tried to walk a very tight rope. It is very easy to look at it from the point of view of seven blind men and an elephant. As far as policy is concerned, this is not the end of the world.
CHANDA KOCHHAR
MD AND CEO, ICICI BANK
Targeting a growth rate of 9 per cent itself is a very bold and positive move. It’s a Budget which is going to further strengthen domestic consumption. On taxes, there seems to be a reform agenda. One could have expected further clarity on the disinvestment process.
TEJPREET SINGH
PRESIDENT AND CEO, GE FINANCE
In the energy sector, the push towards gas usage is good, as well as the push for wind energy. The Rs 7,000-crore rural electrification scheme is hugely beneficial. The only one sector that I wish he had provided for is healthcare — that is one area that is important for our country.
PREETHA REDDY
MD, APOLLO HOSPITALS
To some extent, the social agenda has been taken care of. But the business aspect of healthcare has been sadly neglected. There is so much potential in healthcare as an industry — it can provide about 40 million jobs over the next few years, it provides the construction industry work. It should have been given infrastructure or priority status.
VIKRAM S MEHTA
CHAIRMAN, SHELL GROUP OF COMPANIES IN INDIA
He (FM) talked about the relationship between energy and the environment, giving some concessions for renewable energy and removing fundamental anomalies like the tax holiday that was taken away from the gas exploration companies. So that is a very positive side.
HARPAL SINGH
CHAIRMAN, CII NORTHERN REGION
He did not have the stock market in mind as much as he had the interest of the larger electorate. But that does not mean he travelled to the A B Bardhan extreme that stock market “baadh mein jaaye” (go to hell). He will definitely monitor it for the next week or so.
