And those reforms would have been taxing real estate, stocks, private entrepreneurs, putting in capital tax etc. A few small steps have been taken in that regard such as the duty on imported leather bags and designer suits etc, but they are hardly reforms.
There are still millions of people who are outside the tax net. Still the big fish are free!
Hard steps are needed, the needless subsidies need to be cut and made into targeted subsides, but those hard steps need to be taken all across the board, not only the salaried guy. A 50 lac a month guy isn't going to be affected by these nominal price increases, but a middle class salaried employee is.