When time comes, will have to bite the bullet on subsidies, asserts PM

New Delhi:  Amid signs of a fraying relationship between the Congress and its allies, the former has some relief. The Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has so far not provoked any criticism from either the DMK of Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, both senior partners in the ruling coalition.

"In one word, it's a tolerable Budget," said the Trinamool's Sudip Bandopadhyay. The DMK was more positive. "We're happy. It's a pro- development Budget," said its TR Baalu.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee proposed trimming the government's subsidy burden. High oil prices have swelled India's subsidy burden to roughly 2.5 per cent of GDP and Ms Mukherjee called for reducing that to less than 2 per cent in the fiscal year that starts on April. Ms Banerjee has told the government repeatedly that she will not tolerate any rise in petrol or diesel prices since that will affect the common man or aam admi. "These are compulsions of managing a coalition," said the Prime Minister when asked about whether he expected Opposition from Ms Banerjee about reducing subsidies. "There will be differences, he said, but "if the government has to govern, it must have sustainable strategy for managing the economy." Adding that all allies would be consulted, he asserted, "When the time comes, we have to bite the bullet on controlling subsidies. "
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi offered only this short assessment: "It's a good Budget."  

Gurudas Dasgupta of the Left said, "The Budget is completely ineffective. The tax system is regressive."

"Dada's Budget presented amidst revolt from Didi will herald the farewell of the UPA government," said the BJP's vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, adding that "instead of leading the nation on the path of reform, it will lead it to indebtedness."
Ms Banerjee and the Congress are believed to be on the shakiest ground their partnership has seen so far after she ordered that Railways Minister Dinesh Trivedi be removed by the end of today. Mr Trivedi, who presented the Rail Budget earlier this week, belongs to Ms Banerjee's party. But his decision to hike passenger fares has, in  Ms Banerjee's view, made him Public Enemy No 1. The Congress says that Ms Banerjee has the right to reallocate the Railways Portfolio to another member of her party. But it wanted her to wait till March 30 when Parliament takes a break. That would save the government from a blistering attack by the Opposition, which will target its inability to refuse Ms Banerjee any demand, because of its reliance on her MPs for its survival.
Ms Banerjee's party last night told the Congress that it will not wait beyond tonight for Mr Trivedi's exit to be announced. Sources also say that the Trinamool wants Mr Trivedi to be sacked, and has rejected a suggestion from the Congress to allow the minister to resign - a move that would lend some dignity to his exit.

In the Union Budget today, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee proposed trimming the government's subsidy burden and called for speeding the pace of economic reforms, which have been stalled by political gridlock. High oil prices have swelled India's subsidy burden to roughly 2.5 per cent of GDP and Mukherjee called for reducing that to less than 2 per cent in the fiscal year that starts on April. Ms Banerjee has told the government repeatedly that she will not tolerate any rise in petrol or diesel prices since that will affect the common man or aam aadmi.

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PM's dinner for allies tonight comes amid tension with Mamata, DMK

New Delhi:  The Prime Minister has invited his allies to a dinner at his residence in the capital tonight. The dinner, say sources, will be held in the gardens of 7, Race Course Road. The meet-and-greet comes as two major allies of the ruling coalition, the DMK and Mamata Banerjee, have expressed serious differences with government policy.
Ms Banerjee has chosen not to attend the dinner - she will be represented by Ratna Dey Nag, an MP from her party, the Trinamool Congress. Her RSVP will undoubtedly cause a new anxiety attack within the Congress which has been dealing with reports that Ms Banerjee is exploring other political alliances. Though she has denied any interest in quitting the UPA, her actions depict a relationship stretched to breaking point. Adding to the divided house of the UPA is the DMK, which has told the government that it wants India to vote against Sri Lanka for "alleged war crimes" at the next session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. 

First, Ms Banerjee. In a move that greatly undermines the UPA, her MPs have asked for a formal change to President Pratibha Patil's speech made in Parliament yesterday. The President's address inaugurates the Budget session by outlining the government's agenda. Ms Banerjee wants an amendment that asks for a reference to the new National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) to be deleted. Ms Banerjee has captained a series of chief ministers who object to the NCTC because they find it impinges upon the authority of state governments. Since late last year, Ms Banerjee has fought the UPA on the Lokpal Bill, petrol prices, and reforms in retail, which the government was forced to suspend because of her ardent objections.

The DMK has told the UPA that India must vote against Sri Lanka in a resolution moved by the US that asks for a detailed investigation into alleged human rights violations and war crimes by President Rajapaksa's government. However, the Prime Minister's reply to DMK chief M Karunanidhi seems to suggest this is unlikely. The PM says India wants to work with stake-holders so that "rather than deepening confrontation and mis-trust between the concerned parties, a way forward is found on issues related to accountability and reconciliation."

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Remo's dream comes true, AnyBody Can Dance goes on the floor

By Hindustan Times
Remo D'Souza's ambitious project, AnyBody Can Dance (ABCD), India's first dance film in 3D, has gone on the floor and the choreographer-turned-filmmaker says it is like fullfilling a long-cherished dream.
"It is like a dream coming true for me. I had always nurtured the thought of making a film on my passion - dancing. ABCD is a culmination of multiple dreams actually for me - I get to make a dance film and get the one and only Prabhu Deva to dance and act in it..," D'Souza said in a statement.
ABCD, being produced by UTV Motion Pictures, will have known choreographers like Prabhu Deva and Ganesh Acharya as part of its cast. While Lauren Gottlieb, the global winner of the popular television talent shop So You Think You Can Dance, has been roped in as the female lead.
"We are thrilled to kick off one of our most exciting projects to date, ABCD (AnyBody Can Dance), India's first ever 3D dance musical. It has always been our endeavour to bring audiences movies that are different from the tried and tested, and with ABCD we believe we're pushing the boundaries of innovative content," said Siddharth Roy Kapur, CEO of UTV Motion Pictures who is producing the movie.
The film also stars the winners of dancing reality show Dance India Dance Salman Khan, Dharmesh, Prince, Mayuresh and Vrushali essaying central characters.
Sachin-Jigar has been roped in as the music composer and the film is set to release by the end of 2012.
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Krrish comes to Mumbai?

By Hindustan Times

Mumbai, Feb. 28 -- Good morning potato chips! Usually, Usually, people suffer Monday morning blues; I'm a little different. I go through the Tuesday morning blues! Anyway, that doesn't mean I won't do what I'm best at, sharing Bollywood gossip with you. And even before I can think of digressing, Sher Lock Holmes insists I must share this with you, right away.

Hrithik Roshan, whose Agneepath has created new box office records not just in India but also overseas, has been shooting a slew of action scenes in Hyderabad for Krrish 3 with papa Rakesh Roshan's aashirwaad.

Over the last one month, he has filmed fewer soft and romantic scenes and more maar-dhaad sequences for the sequel of his superhero film.

According to my jasoos from Juhu, he has just about 20 days of work left in Hyderabad, after which he will have a long shooting spell in Mumbai, amidst the raging summer heat. But he's quite kicked about the second schedule because he'll get to be with his biwi Sussanne and bachchas Hrehaan and Hridaan. So, garmi chalegi.

After about a month or so in the city, he will push off with a certain part of the cast and crew to an exotic locale to shoot one or two songs and scenes for his film and wrap it up by the end of July, so that papa and he can start on the post production of the film which will take up more time than it took for the entire film's shooting. Kya baat! Kya baat! Kya baat!

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