NEW DELHI-Gift-Wrapping the Reforms-Budget 1996-97

P CHIDAMBARAM, union finance minister, is being acclaimed for his skill in packaging in bright and attractive colours his product, the budget of the UF government for 1996-97, He is being complimented for scoring over his predecessor, Manmohan Singh, who lei himself be bogged down by following the straight and narrow path ordained by his mentors, the IMF/World Bank combine, and his political master, P V Narasimha Rao. Chidambaram is being given credit for political dexterity, if not economic expertise, in pushing ahead on the same road with greater success.