NEW DELHI, Feb. 10 -- A saying in Hindi goes like this: "jo dikhta hai vah bikta hai" (that which is visible or exhibited gets sold). This sentiment has come back again to haunt the 146 crore Indians after the presentation of the budget on January 31. The Finance Minister, Ms Sitaraman, beamed with a sense of achievement. The opposition appears clueless about addressing all the rhetoric devoid of reality.

The ordinary citizens have been silenced by the directionless budget. It was not as if they had expected anything substantial to alleviate their sheer lack of roti, kapda, aur makan. There is not even a slight inkling that this government cares for their issues; forget about actually doing anything concrete for their upliftment. It is p...