Watch: PM Modi walks up to Nirmala Sitharaman after Budget 2025

As Nirmala Sitharaman reciprocated the gestures of her party members, Prime Minister Modi was seen rising from his seat and walking towards her.

Updated on: Feb 1, 2025, 20:30:14 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

After presenting her eighth budget on Saturday, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman received greetings from her cabinet colleagues, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi also walking over to offer his greetings.

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman being greeted by her cabinet colleagues in the Lok Sabha after presenting Budget 2025. (screengrab)

A video from the Lok Sabha showed Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia being the first to shake hands with her, followed by Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Manohar Lal Khattar, while others greeted her with folded hands.

As Sitharaman reciprocated the gestures of her party members, Prime Minister Modi was seen rising from his seat and walking towards her.

In the video, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen speaking with Nirmala Sitharaman and other ministers, including Union defence minister Rajnath Singh and health minister JP Nadda.

Calling the budget a significant step in India’s development, Modi said, “Today is an important milestone in India’s development journey. This budget reflects the aspirations of 140 crore Indians and fulfils the dreams of every citizen. We have opened many sectors for the youth, and the common citizen will drive the mission of Viksit Bharat.”

He sought to reach out to the middle class perceived to have moved away from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over rising costs and inflation.

“Usually, the focus of the budget is on how the government treasury will be filled. But this budget is exactly the opposite. How will this budget fill the pockets of the citizens, increase their savings and how will they become development partners... this budget lays a very strong foundation for it...” he said.

Modi said all employment-generating sectors have been given priority in the budget. Employment is a key electoral concern.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.