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Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman speaks in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon session of Parliament in New Delhi, on July 30. (PTI photo)
Sitharaman stated that the ceremony is an “emotional and sentimental event” for the Finance Ministry staff, who spend four days and five nights in quarantine to ensure the secrecy of the Budget proposals
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday defended 2024 Union Budget and responded to criticism from Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi regarding the ‘halwa ceremony.’
Sitharaman stated that the ceremony is an “emotional and sentimental event” for the Finance Ministry staff, who spend four days and five nights in quarantine to ensure the secrecy of the Budget proposals.
“Halwa is an emotional and sentimental matter… How can you deal (with) such an important matter so lightly?” she questioned.
Emphasising the adage “charity begins at home,” Sitharaman questioned the Congress party’s commitment to reservations by pointing to the historical stances of Congress leaders, including former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Rajiv Gandhi, who she alleged were opposed to reservations.
Congress today talks about reservation for SC, ST and OBCs.There’s a saying in English which says ‘charity begins at home’.
I want to ask the Congress party – How many SC, ST and OBCs are there in Rajiv Gandhi Foundation? How many SC, ST and OBCs are there in Board of Trustees… pic.twitter.com/zTVJxb5ieS
— Nirmala Sitharaman Office (@nsitharamanoffc) July 30, 2024
Challenging the Congress party’s current criticism of the ‘halwa ceremony’ by comparing it to their actions. “I want to ask the Congress party – How many SC, ST and OBCs are there in Rajiv Gandhi Foundation? How many SC, ST and OBCs are there in Board of Trustees at Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust,” she asked
‘A Conspiracy To Create Division’
The Union minister further condemned the opposition’s scrutiny of the ceremony and argued that questioning the diversity of officials involved in the ‘halwa ceremony’ reveals a deeper conspiracy aimed at creating divisions.
“…It is a conspiracy that is happening now and that is why this question is being asked now… Why divide people now by asking (the) caste of everyone involved?,” Sitharaman stated.
On Monday, Gandhi’s remarks, made during a Lok Sabha debate, questioned the presence of OBC, tribal, or Dalit officers in a photo from the halwa ceremony.
“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% hai hi nahi. 20 officers prepared the Budget of India…Hindustan ka halwa 20 logon ne baatne ka kaam kiya hai,” Gandhi commented.
Following Gandhi’s critique, a viral video showed Sitharaman responding with a facepalm and a dismissive smile, which further fueled the debate on social media.
Gandhi also used the term ‘chakravyuh’ to describe the current political climate, suggesting that a small group is trapping the nation in a ‘chakravyuh’.
