A record of sorts for a non -Congress Govt in India. BJP's NDA alliance tabled its seventh consecutive Union budget and second interim budget on February 3.

However that's just for the record, in 1997, when BJP first tried forming the government and even later in 1998/9 when it cemented its place in the treasury benches, it was perceived to be a party with a difference.

Sadly, Jas (short for Finance Minister Jaswant Singh) election year interim budget only reiterates, BJP is just another a party. The budget speech was populist to the core.

While relaxing credit terms for farmers, power sector sops may augur well if norms are adhered to(?), what causes nausea is Jas cowing down to woo the most under productive class-- government employees ata babus! Jas has taken 50% dearness allowance and tagged it along with the basic pay. Result, added cost of about Rs 1500 crore to the exchequer and worse still if states follow suit another Rs 8000 crore gone with the wind. That's not all, the damage will linger on for years as the babu brigade hops into retirement, only to encash bloated pension cheques.

A colleague remarked, "Come on, to sustain 'The feel good factor' one needs a vision not populism. President Kalam you heard that?

But then maybe Jas or NDA partners read John Milton's On his Blindness and were mesmerised by the verse " They also serve who only stand and wait"