Heeding to the ‘‘call of his brahma’’ (inner voice), Finance Minister Jaswant Singh announced in the Lok Sabha today the withdrawal of hike in fertiliser prices proposed in the Budget he presented just under a fortnight ago.Singh was reportedly under tremendous pressure from the BJP leadership to roll the hike back and extend the Budget’s ‘feel-good’ effect to the farmers.On his February-28 Budget speech, Singh had announced an increase in prices of urea, DAP and MOP by Rs 12, Rs 10 and Rs 10 per bag of 50 kg. This had evoked sharp reaction from within the ruling coalition and the Opposition. The rollback is estimated to result in an additional outgo of Rs 700 crore in the next fiscal.Today’s announcement came amid interesting scenes in Parliament. Indeed, it took some time before members present in the House understood what the FM had just announced. On his part, Singh employed chaste Hindi to establish his credentials as one who has been very much a part of rural India.A visibly anguished Singh said, ‘‘I was described as very stubborn by members as well as media. I met the Prime Minister and asked him whether I am stubborn. I also asked him what should be done about the fertiliser price hike. He said, ‘listen to your brahma.’’‘‘I listened to my brahma. If the House so desires, so be it. It’s a small thing, but took too much attention of the House with members and speakers getting vociferous over the issue. So much for so little.’’ Although Singh ended his speech on an emotional note, members couldn’t make out the import of his statement and insisted on a definitive answer to the issue of fertiliser price hike. Singh had to clarify, ‘‘Yes. I have withdrawn the fertiliser price hike.’’However, he added, is ghani sae tel nikalne ki koshish maat kijye, is til mein tel nahin hain. (Do not try to raise the issue of fertiliser subsidy; there isn’t much left in it). Mounting fertiliser subsidy, Singh said, was a matter of grave concern and this had to be addressed at some point of time.Trying to arrest criticism against his anti-subsidy tack, Singh tried to convince Parliamentarians of his humble origins. ‘‘I belong to an average household. Maine hal chalaya hai. Maine rahat se pani nikala hain.’’ (I have ploughed fields and drawn water from well).Earlier, Singh, replying to the debate on Budget 2003-04, also announced reduction of 1 per cent interest rate on fresh loans given by the Centre to states. However, he did not announce any rollback on diesel price hike. Political analysts point out that in a year when assembly elections are due in four crucial states, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the BJP was keen on projecting a pro-farmer image. Having pleased all sections, from pensioners to the salaries class and housewives, the BJP wished to cosy up to the peasants also.The party has planned a fortnight-long country-wide campaign, touching all assembly segments to highlight the ‘‘positive aspects of the general and railway budgets and the NDA Government achievements from March 19.’’BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu, who was among the first to demand a roll-back of the increase, complimented Jaswant Singh for having taken the ‘‘bold’’ decision.Naidu was apparently keen on cornering the credit for the roll-back. While Jaswant Singh was under pressure from the NDA allies to withdraw the hike, the BJP was inclined to do so without much fuss.There was a clear race for credit. Indian National Lok Dal leader and Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, according to a state Government release, ‘‘expressed his gratitude to Jaswant Singh for acceding to his request to withdraw the hike.’’The Opposition Congress chose to downplay the roll-back. Instead, the party regretted the continuation of the special cess on diesel saying it would have a cascading effect on people living in rural areas.
