New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is also handling the Finance Ministry in the absence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, presented the Interim Budget in Parliament on Monday claiming the United Progressive Alliance had kept the promises outlined in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP).
"I can say with confidence that every effort has been made by the UPA Government to fulfill the commitments," said Pranab while presenting India's 12th Interim Budget.
Highlighting that the per capita income had grown by 7.4 per cent during the UPA regime, Mukherjee said that despite recession in many countries India was the second fastest growing economy at 7.1 per cent.
He also claimed that India has registered a growth rate of more than nine per cent for the three consecutive years.
The Minister said the government had done its best to improve the lot of the farming community and enhance its income.
As a result, the foodgrain production increased to an all time high.
While the government did not present an Economic Survey, which highlights the state of the economy and hints at policy initiative in the offing, Mukherjee chose to highlight the economic performance during the Interim Budget itself.
The House was packed to the capacity. On the Treasury benches were seen Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Home Minister P Chidambaram, Minister of State for Finance Pawan Kumar Bansal and Heavy Industry Minister Santosh Mohan Dev and Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi.
Leader of Opposition LK Advani was seen intently listening to Mukherjee's speech.
Mukherjee emphasised that the government was fully committed to the nine per cent growth regime, as soon as the global situation warranted.
Mukherjee created history by presenting the budget once again after 25 years.
(With inputs from PTI)
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