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The Indian Parliament witnessed a heated exchange between Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition Congress party, and Nirmala Sitharaman, the Finance Minister, over the lack of diversity in the pre-budget 'Halwa' ceremony. This traditional ceremony involves the preparation of a sweet dish, 'Halwa,' which is distributed among officials involved in the budget process. Gandhi pointed out the lack of representation from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes (OBC) among the 20 officers involved in the budget preparation, highlighting an alleged lack of inclusivity in the process. This sparked a heated debate, with the BJP accusing the Congress of being anti-Hindu and having a history of obstructing reservation for these communities.
Sitharaman's reaction to Gandhi's criticism, characterized by a facepalm and disapproving nod, became a viral moment. This reaction further fueled the controversy and fueled discussions on social media, with many interpreting it as a dismissal of Gandhi's concerns. Gandhi, in turn, responded to Sitharaman's reaction, claiming that it was not a laughing matter and that a caste census would be crucial for a more inclusive and equitable society. He further alleged that the budget primarily served the interests of big businesses and political monopolies.
The BJP, in its defense, countered Gandhi's accusations by pointing to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation's board members, questioning their representation from SC, ST, and OBC communities. This was seen as a tactic to shift the focus from the current government's inclusivity to past Congress leadership. The BJP IT department head, Amit Malviya, further alleged that the Congress has been historically anti-SC/ST and OBC, highlighting the delay in the implementation of the Kelkar Committee recommendation for a Backward Commission. This exchange underscored the ongoing political tensions and ideological differences between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress, with the budget process becoming a focal point for these disagreements.
Source: Rahul Gandhi's Speech, Nirmala Sitharaman's Viral Reaction And A BJP Pushback