The Budget 1998-99 has been termed a 'swadeshi' budget primarily because (a) it is a budget by the BJP which has been projecting 'nationalistic' sentiments, of course without disclosing 'whose nation' they are trying to protect, (b) customs duties are up by 8 per cent, and (c) insurance sector awaits Indian entrepreneurs, and the NRIs are being wooed through PIO cards so that they feel more at home with their homeland. But it is ironical that right after presenting the 'swadeshi' budget, the government had to succumb to the Suzuki pressure and give up its claims in exchange for the withdrawal of the arbitration proceedings by Suzuki.