In an unusual practice, FM speaks on Budget eve

It is not usual for a finance minister to speak on the eve of the Union Budget in Parliament on issues that he may have to address in his Budget speech.

But, Pranab Mukherjee spoke at length on Thursday on measures being taken by the government to tackle 17.58 per cent food inflation and certain aspects of the economy.

"Though this is not the practice, I spoke on the eve of the Budget," Mukherjee said in identical remarks in both Houses of Parliament.

However, the finance minister did not oblige members in the Rajya Sabha with clarifications on his intervention in the debate on the issue of price rise, even when Communist Party of India-Marxist member Sitaram Yechury sought some more information.

After Mukherjee explained his constraints, Yechuri agreed with the 'spirit'.

The finance minister will present the Budget on Friday and it is likely to partially withdraw stimulus package and unveil certain measures to deal with inflation.