The Honb'le Finance Minister has set a target of Rs 4 trillion for direct tax collections this financial year as opposed to Rs. 3.7 trillion last year. ' I know what I am asking is an extremely challenging target given the current economic situation. But it is equally true that if such a target has to be achieved, it can only be done by direct tax,' said Mr. Mukherjee. The surprising thing is that I seem to be the only person in the country who thinks that it is strange for an elected representative of the people to encourage tax officials to go out to harass and bully tax payers into paying more. Isn't this what rajas and zamindars used to do in the past, set an exorbitant tax rate and then send out the pahalwans as collectors? Isn't it what Dawood Ibrahim does now, pay a percent of your earnings for his services? Why is it called extortion and protection racket when Dawood does it and is applauded by the freeloading press when the finance minister does the same thing? It is all in the name of the naked aam aadmi. Sixty two years after independence the aam aadmi remains naked, is easily bribed with promises of handouts with taxpayers' money and then provides the excuse to bully the taxpayers. Whoever thought up this wheeze is surely the greatest con artist the world has ever seen and deserves statues erected in his image. Charles Ponzi was a two bit player compared to this fellow.