New Delhi: India’s first full-time woman Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman ditched the British-era tradition and instead of the traditional briefcase, brought documents in ‘bahi khata’ (journal wrapped in a red cloth) on Friday, July 5 to present the Union Budget for 2019-20.
The finance minister’s move became an instant hit among the netizens. However, former finance minister P Chidambaram has taken a jibe at Nirmala Sitharaman stating that the future Congress finance minister’s will bring an iPad. “Take it from me, our Congress’ finance minister will, in future, bring an iPad,” he said as quoted by ANI.
Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) K Subramanian, has reportedly said that Sitharaman believes that the bahi khata wrapped in the red cloth is considered to be auspicious and also symbolises departure from the slavery of western thought.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hailed the Union Budget 2019-20 but the Congress has slammed it as betrayal of India’s youth.