What questions Chidambaram can expect at Google+ Hangout

BANGALORE, INDIA: US President Barack Obama did it. Now, finance minister P Chidambaram is doing it. Issues are different, the reach varies, but the platform is the same: Goolge + Hangout.

When P Chidambaram logs on to connect with citizens at 8 pm tonight, he will face a horde of questions regarding the recent Budget. CIOL readers have been shooting questions to Chidambaram on our site. So, here is a peek into what Chidambaram can expect tonight.

A CIOL reader J L Chattaraj wants to know why Sensex is down after the Budget. There are many questions on why agriculture income is exempt from Income Tax. Another reader Rajesh adds: "The apparent reason convinced by policymakers is: Indian farmers are poor. But who is saying to tax them for poor income. Tax them if their income is more than Rs 200000 as you are taxing everybody. I found that most of ministers/politicians show their occupation as farmers. isn't it a reason to exempt?"

Not just questions, there are suggestions too. Rajesh says cess on imports is a nuisance as everyone has to show it separately and collect it in decimals which requires extra paperwork on crores of taxpayers. "So, why can't it be consolidated and segregated by the government at one go?" he asks.

Google+ Hangouts are multi-party video chats that allow up to 10 people to participate at the same time. The hangout can be later shared on YouTube or streamed live using Hangouts on Air. Users can submit their questions by uploading a video, by commenting on the YouTube channel or through the Google India Page and tagging text or a video with the hashtag #askthefm.

Chidambaram will be joined by a select group of panelists such as Jahangir Aziz, India chief economist, JP Morgan; Anand Mahindra, CMD, Mahindra & Mahindra and Amit Singhal, senior vice-president, Google Inc.

"During the conversation, selected participants will ask the Minister questions - but we'd also like to hear from you before the Hangout," said a Google representative in the blog post.

Another reader Ved Prakash is more worried about the tax rates. "When D.A. is revised twice in a year to neutralize inflation, why the tax rate and slab could not be revised annually to neutralize the impact of higher tax on revised DA for the salaried middle class?" he wants to know.

Now coming to the most sensitive issue of Nirbhaya fund. Yet another reader Bibhuti Bhusan Mohapatra asks Chidambaram: "You have allocated Rs 1000 crore for Nirbhaya fund of women security, but does it not show that women in India are vulnerable? Then will the money allocated to states be sufficient for women security?

These are samples of questions P Chidambaram might face tonight. Do you have any questions, write them in the comments box we will try to take them to Chidambaram.