Referring to the UPA government budget in 2013–14 with the then Finance Minister going to the cellar and distributing Halwa, Sitharaman said why Rahul Gandhi did not raise his objections at that time about lack of representation of weaker sections…reports Asian Lite News
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday hit back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his “budget ka halwa” jibe during discussion on union budget and said the ceremony is “more than just a ritual and a testament to the hard work and dedication” of the Finance Ministry officials and staff.
Sitharaman, who was replying to the budget debate in the Lok Sabha, emphasised the importance of the ceremony in fostering a sense of solidarity and teamwork among the members involved in the meticulous task of budget preparation.
Rahul Gandhi, who is Leader of Opposition, in his remarks, alleged that there was lack of representation of weaker sections in the preparation of union budget. He came to the House with a poster which he sought to display but the Speaker told him that it is against norms.
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“Budget ka halwa’ is being distributed in this photo. I can’t see one OBC or tribal or a Dalit officer in this. Desh ka halwa bant raha hai aur 73 per cent hai hi nahi. 20 officers prepared the Budget of India…Hindustan ka halwa 20 logon ne baatne ka kaam kiya hai,” Gandhi alleged in his speech on Monday.
Referring to the UPA government budget in 2013–14 with the then Finance Minister going to the cellar and distributing Halwa, Sitharaman said why Rahul Gandhi did not raise his objections at that time about lack of representation of weaker sections .
“Leader of the opposition, why did you not ask the finance minister at that time that how many SC brothers are with you when you go down to distribute Halwa? Say it. If it was so powerful, why did you not cancel halwa then? Because at that time, it was remote control, right? Why did you not cancel halwa? At that time, it was not asked. How many SCs, STs, OBCs were there…At that time, no statistics were counted. But now it is being asked. That is why I am saying, in this country, people are being divided. With some conspiracy, this question is being asked. Sir, it is a shame,” Sitharaman said.
A customary Halwa ceremony is performed every year before the ‘lock-in’ process of officials involved in the Budget preparation begins. The ceremony marks the beginning of the budget printing process, which takes place in the basement of North Block.
Sitharaman noted that the staff involved in this process is required to remain within the premises until the budget is formally presented to maintain confidentiality.
“Once they go inside after the Halwa ceremony, they can’t come out until the budget is read. This tradition recognizes their hard work and dedication,” Sitharaman said.
She recalled the commitment of officials and named two of them who continued their work despite personal tragedies, reflecting their profound sense of duty.
She pointed out that the tradition was not new and had been practiced long before it became a media event.
Sitharaman also pointed to the cultural relevance of such events as such ceremonies are held during auspicious occasions.
“In India, there is a tradition to eat something sweet before doing anything good. It symbolises a good beginning. The Halwa ceremony serves as a recognition for the hard work and dedication of the finance ministry officials and staff who have been diligently preparing the budget documents,” she said.
Sitharaman presented the Union Budget on July 23 in the Parliament and made major announcements for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, including a boost in infrastructure and special financial support.
The budget session of Parliament began on July 22 and is slated to conclude on August 12. (ANI)
Rahul attacks Anurag Thakur over caste remark
Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused BJP MP Anurag Thakur of “abusing and insulting” him in the Lok Sabha during the discussion on the Union Budget on Tuesday.
Anurag Thakur entered into a heated argument with Rahul Gandhi during his speech in the Lower House of the Parliament, saying that those whose caste is unknown are speaking on the issue of caste census.
Reacting to this, the Congress leader said that whoever raises the issues of Adivasi, Dalit, and the backward gets abused.
“Those whose caste is not known, talk about the caste census. I want to remind the Speaker that in this House itself, a former prime minister RG-1 (Rajiv Gandhi) had opposed reservation for OBCs,” the BJP MP said.
Rahul Gandhi replied, “Whoever raises the issues of Adivasi, Dalit and the backward, is abused. I will happily accept these abuses…Anurag Thakur has abused me and insulted me. But I do not want any apology from him.”
Sawamjwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav intervened in the conservation and questioned Anurag Thakur how one could ask about the caste of any person.
“How can you ask caste…?” he asked BJP leader in the Lower House.
The caste census was one of the Congress party’s promises in the 2024 general elections.
The Congress party has promised to pass a constitutional amendment to raise the Supreme Court mandated 50 per cent cap on reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC), as per its poll manifesto.
The party also promised to conduct a nation-wide Socio-Economic and Caste Census to enumerate the castes and sub-castes and their socio-economic conditions.
Meanwhile, Anurag Thakur defended the BJP’s lotus symbol and launched a scathing attack on the Congress party during the discussion on the Union Budget on Tuesday.
Thakur began by congratulating Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on presenting the seventh consecutive budget, describing it as a “budget that resonates with public sentiments.” He then replied to the criticisms from opposition leaders who had made derogatory remarks about the BJP’s election symbol, the lotus.
“The lotus is not just our election symbol but also represents Goddess Lakshmi, our national flower, and the meditative posture of Padmasana,” Thakur stated. He accused the opposition of insulting revered figures like Lord Shiva, Buddha, and Lokmanya Tilak by disparaging the lotus.
Thakur’s speech quickly pivoted to a sharp critique of Congress and its leaders. He highlighted the Congress’s historical opposition to OBC reservations and accused them of being disconnected from the realities of caste and community issues.
Referring to rghe novel written by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, “The Great Indian Novel,” which depicts historical and political figures, asserting that it aligns Congress with the negative characters of the Mahabharata.
He also lambasted the Gandhi family, accusing them of nepotism and corruption. “For them, OBC means ‘Only for Brother-in-law Commission,'” he quipped, referring to Congress’s alleged favoritism.
Concluding his speech, Thakur dismissed the Congress’s allegations of fear and instability under the current government. “Yes, there is fear–fear among criminals, corrupt people, and enemies of the nation,” he declared, reiterating the budget’s focus on public welfare and development.
Thakur’s remarks, punctuated by historical references and literary citations, underscored his defense of the BJP’s policies and symbol while attacking the Congress’s legacy and leadership.
Notably, Rahul Gandhi drew parallels from the Mahabharata, on Monday and attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party over the Union Budget saying that there’s an atmosphere of fear in the country, adding that the country is now trapped in a “Chakravyuh of lotus,” referring to the BJP’s symbol.
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