Finance Minister breaks tradition of briefcase, carries budget wrapped in a red cloth

July 5: Breaking away from the long observed tradition of carrying the budget in leather briefcase by the former Finance Ministers, Nirmala Sitharaman tried something different and unique to Indian culture and tradition.The Finance Minister ditched the usual briefcase to wrap the documents in a red cloth. The red cloth was wrapped with a lace and carried the state Emblem of India on it. Infact, the tradition of carrying the budget in a leather briefcase was established by first Finance Minister R.K. Shanmukham Chetty.

However, the moment after the “bahikhaata” (as because it was wrapped in red cloth) Union Budget was presented on Friday, people took to social media platforms that erupted with angry and perplexed reactions. “Your folder is sanskaari, symbolising ‘departure from slavery of western thought’, but your aspirations are 3 trillion ‘US DOLLARS’ economy, huh hypocrite!” tweeted a user.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the government aims to increase the present $2.7 trillion economy to $5 trillion by 2025. “Instead of making US dollar a bench mark of aspirational currency, why not work on making Indian Rupee stronger?” another user posted.