Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman responded to Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the traditional `halwa` ceremony, which takes place before the Union Budget is announced. Gandhi had made fun of the ceremony, calling it "budget ka halwa," and criticized the event for not including diverse groups like Dalits, OBCs, and Adivasis. He pointed out that these communities were missing among the participants. Sitharaman defended the ceremony during a lively debate in the Lok Sabha on July 29. She addressed Gandhi’s comments, explaining the ceremony’s importance and responding to his concerns about diversity. Her reply aimed to clarify the purpose of the ceremony and counter Gandhi’s critique. Watch video for more.