'I hope they cut taxes'

Chirag Shah is second-generation steel businessman in Khar, a Mumbai suburb.

"The Budget is fairly important. Usually the government just increases taxes and prices too go up. I expect the new government to reduce taxes this time. I expect it to raise the taxable limit from Rs 60,000 to Rs 100,000."

"P Chidambaram was a smart finance minister when he first came on the scene. I don't know if he is still smart. We will know when the Budget is presented," he says, tongue-in-cheek.

"I make my own plans irrespective of the Budget, because the government keeps on changing its Budget promises."

Cigarettes, cosmetics and cars would be taxed heavily by him if he were the finance minister. However, he would spare tax on essential commodities, diesel, kerosene, petrol and gas.

- As told to A Ganesh Nadar

Photograph: A Ganesh Nadar

Budget 2004-05: Complete Coverage