Nirmala Sitharaman terms Interim Budget 2024 'secularism in action'

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1 presented her sixth consecutive Budget with a speech lasting less than an hour.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 2 in an exclusive interview with Rahul Joshi, Editor-in-Chief Network18, termed the Interim Budget 2024-25 "secularism" in action. "People on the ground are talking about programmes, this is secularism in action, " she said.

Sitharaman said the Centre has not shown any difference between any community. "Projects reach everyone who deserves the benefits," she said while adding that more has to be done to ensure the Centre works with the states.

According to her, the power of word of mouth is "very strong". "When a beneficiary on the ground truly gets a benefit, they believe what the government says," said the Finance Minister. “This government is serving the common people in letter and spirit and that is recognised by the people themselves."