Speaking to ANI, CEA Subramanian, when asked about the replacement of the briefcase, said, "Sitharaman believes that leather made products are not auspicious for the big occasion, so she avoided the leather bag and took the bahi khata wrapped in the red cloth. This is considered to be auspicious. Also, ditching the briefcase symbolises our departure from the slavery of western thought."
On the day of the Union Budget presentation, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman decided to go with the swadeshi 'bahi khata' instead of the traditional budget briefcase.
Sitharaman flashed the bahi khata, which is a kind of a ledger, wrapped in a red coloured cloth, containing a copy of the budget speech and other related relevant papers outside the North Block. Present alongside her were MoS Finance Anurag Thakur, Finance Secretary S C Garg, and Chief Economic Advisor Krishnamurthy Subramanian, among other officials.
Read: Nirmala Sitharaman first budget live updates
Speaking to ANI, CEA Subramanian, when asked about the replacement of the briefcase, said, "Sitharaman believes that leather made products are not auspicious for the big occasion, so she avoided the leather bag and took the bahi khata wrapped in the red cloth. This is considered to be auspicious. Also, ditching the briefcase symbolises our departure from the slavery of western thought."
With inputs from ANI
1. Twitter reactions pour in
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Chief Economic Advisor Krishnamurthy Subramanian on FM Nirmala Sitharaman keeping budget documents in four fold red cloth instead of a briefcase: It is in Indian tradition. It symbolizes our departure from slavery of Western thought. It is not a budget but a 'bahi khata'(ledger) pic.twitter.com/ZhXdmnfbvl
— ANI (@ANI) July 5, 2019
The guy next her is in a suit. Give me a break ffs https://t.co/wAYcN5juYB
— Err (@Errendous) July 5, 2019
Sanskaari Budget on its way ... https://t.co/q9ZXU8ELhQ
— Abhisar Sharma (@abhisar_sharma) July 5, 2019
Departure from the slavery of Western thought?
— Uzair Hasan Rizvi (@RizviUzair) July 5, 2019
Meanwhile, India's Chief Economic Advisor Krishnamurthy Subramanian studied financial economics from the University of Chicago.#Budget2019 https://t.co/JEINcoD839
I like how color coordinated this is https://t.co/Jgqn0whIcl
— Shayonee (@Shayoneespeaks) July 5, 2019
Lose the business suit, and wear dhoti-kurta then?
— Abhishek (@baxiabhishek) July 5, 2019
Ghadi, ghadi nautanki. https://t.co/bbvfiwjvmK
If you're trying to put on a show, do it completely.
— Bala Yogesh (@Yo_Bala) July 5, 2019
Why wear the western suit then? #Budget2019 https://t.co/yC3Cii0sf4
'He said this in English' https://t.co/Wj6NDW5wtc
— Abhijeet (@abhic4ever) July 5, 2019
Peak of symbolism, a bit amusing but harmless till this doesn't become a paranoia. On a side note, I always thought what is it with that black/ red folder suitcases, some change for good. https://t.co/qLFLecppSx
— - बकलोल (@A_Baklol) July 5, 2019
Iss bhai ko bhi bolo dhoti pehen ke aayega pic.twitter.com/ZWEXMguySx
— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) July 5, 2019
Why is the Chief Economic Advisor Krishnamurthy Subramanian not wearing Indian tradition clothes in four fold white cloth dhoti instead of a western suit?
— Desi Bhai | Troll Magnet (@DesiPoliticks) July 5, 2019
Does it not symbolizes our departure from slavery of Western thought Mr. #KrishnamurthySubramanian? https://t.co/EoPsTKdUTS pic.twitter.com/jOPWaL9Y6G
Bas dikhawa karte raho
— ਬਾਸ਼ਾ( Basha) (@manmohandeep) July 5, 2019
2. We must appreciate her decision
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"The Finance Minister has worked in the United Kingdom and she knows the tradition of our country. We must appreciate her decision," he added.
The tradition of posing with the briefcase before the budget speech started with Independent India's first ever budget presented by then Finance Minister RK Shanmukham Chetty on November 26, 1947.
Earlier, during the customary halwa ceremony, which takes place before the commencement of Budget Session, Sitharaman started the trend of unfolding the red ribbon rather than cutting it.
As per the Union Minister, cutting a ribbon on an important occasion is not considered auspicious.
Owing to this belief, Sitharaman unfolded the traditional red ribbon and was followed by Thakur and Garg, who also did the same.
3. Budget to be presented today
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The budget, which will be presented today in the Lok Sabha, is expected to boost spending at the cost of short-term slippage in fiscal deficit targets.
It is believed that Sitharaman might give relief to the farmers and the common man by raising personal income tax threshold for certain categories and upping spending on agriculture, healthcare and social sectors.
Whenever a new government is elected, the Parliament convenes for the Budget Session and the newly-sworn in Finance Minister presents the Budget outlook for the first year till February 1.
The 17th Lok Sabha's first session started on June 17.
