New Delhi: In the Lok Sabha on Monday, Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the Narendra Modi-led government during the debate on the Union Budget 2024.
Gandhi presented a photo from the “halwa ceremony,” a traditional event held at the Ministry of Finance before the budget presentation.
“Budget ka halwa is being distributed in this photo. I can’t see one OBC, tribal, or 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 said. A video clip of the same has gone viral on social media
His remarks caused a stir among NDA MPs, prompting Speaker Om Birla to ask Gandhi to maintain the House’s decorum.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was seen covering her face with her palm in bemusement and nodding in disagreement with a smile.
After the session, Gandhi posted the photo of him holding up the halwa ceremony picture in the House, along with Sitharaman’s reaction, on X.
“Today in Parliament, when I raised the issue of caste census, the Finance Minister laughed and ridiculed this serious issue. Such a dismissive response to the most important issue related to the lives of 90% of the country’s population has exposed the intentions, mindset, and motives of the BJP. I want to tell the BJP that we will make caste census a reality at all costs and provide justice to the deprived. INDIA will bring out the X-Ray of the country,” he wrote.
Gandhi claimed that India is being controlled by financial power, GoI agencies, and political institutions, and accused the Union Budget 2024-25 of promoting monopolies.
He described the Union Budget as a “tool of monopoly power” and accused the government of creating a “chakravyuha” or trap through monopoly capital, financial institutions, and the political executive.
