Sitharaman was reacting to comments made by the leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha on Monday.
As Rahul cited Mahabharata’s ‘chakravyuha’ (trap) to attack the Modi government 3.0, he pulled out a photo of ‘halwa ceremony’ which was held at the ministry of finance before the presentation of Union budget as per tradition.
“This photo shows budget ka halwa being distributed in this photo. I can’t see one OBC or tribal or a Dalit officer in this. 20 officers prepared the budget … Hindustan ka halwa 20 logon ne baatne ka kaam kiya hai…” he said.
The remark led Sitharaman, who was also in the House, to cover her face with a smile.
Contending that previous Congress governments and leaders such as former PMs Jawaharlal Nehru or Rajiv Gandhi were strongly against reservations, the finance minister on Tuesday attacked the opposition for raising questions over who was involved in the halwa ceremony.
She also asked how many SC/ST or OBC trustees are there in the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation or the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust.
Significance of halwa ceremony
On Tuesday, Sitharaman also went into detail about the significance of the halwa ceremony.
It marks the beginning of the Budget printing process and is seen as a gesture of appreciation for the officials and staff involved in the arduous task of compiling the budget documents, said the minister.
After the ceremony, the officials and staff involved in the budget-making process are confined to their offices until the budget is presented in Parliament. This seclusion is intended to maintain confidentiality and prevent any leaks or premature disclosures of budgetary proposals, she added.
The preparation and sharing of sweets like halwa hold cultural significance in many Indian ceremonies and festivals. By incorporating this ritual into the budget-making process, the ceremony bridges the gap between tradition and modern governance practices, said the minister.
