Setting a new precedent Union Finance Minister NirmalaSitharaman on Friday was seen hugging the budget documents wrapped in a redcloth, the traditional ‘bahi khaata’ way, instead of the leather briefcase thatuntil now her predecessors marched out with.
Chief Economic Advisor K. Subramanian said that it was adeparture from “slavery of western tradition”. The red clothsymbolises the ‘bahi khaata’ traditionally used in every Indian business set-upto maintain accounts.
Sitharaman was seen carrying the red cloth wrapped budgetpapers that was neatly bound with the auspicious yellow and red ribbon. The LionCapital shone brightly on top of the bahi khaata, as the first-time FinanceMinister walked out of the North Block.
Until now all former Finance Ministers have carried theirBudget Document in a hardbound leather briefcase that takes after the parallelBritish custom — much like many of India’s laws and Parliamentary practices.
Even Piyush Goyal, who presented the Interim Budget inFebruary had carried a briefcase of colour and size of his choice and posed forthe iconic photograph outside Finance Ministry and then Parliament building.
She will be present the first budget of Modi2.0 at 11 amtoday.