Rahul Consciously Using Caste Card, Even Pak Astonished By His Comments: Sitharaman | Exclusive

New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman sharply criticized Rahul Gandhi 's recent remarks and actions. During his visit to the United States, Gandhi made comments about India’s employment challenges and criticized the country’s economic policies, which Sitharaman condemned as “disparaging and unpatriotic.”

In an exclusive interview with Republic Media Network’s Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami , FM Sitharaman remarked that Indian voters are growing disillusioned with the Congress Party's role as the opposition. 

“Indian voters expected the Congress to be more constructive in Parliament,” she said. 

“Instead, they have seen a destructive approach. It’s disappointing to see someone from India go abroad and criticize their own country in such a manner. I was astonished to see how even a Pakistani news channel reacted to this.”

When questioned by Goswami about Gandhi’s recent remarks questioning the caste composition of officials involved in the budget preparation, Sitharaman responded with strong criticism. She explained the significance of the traditional "Halwa Ceremony" associated with the budget process, noting, “It was very demeaning when Rahul Gandhi mocked this ceremony, which is a customary practice with its own significance. By reducing it to a discussion on caste, he showed a lack of respect for institutional traditions.”

Sitharaman also took issue with Gandhi’s use of caste in his remarks, suggesting that if Rahul Gandhi were genuinely above such divisions, his own team wouldn’t refer to him in caste-specific terms. 

“And if he were above caste why would his team call him a Ganeyudhari Brahman of a particular gotra,” Sitharaman remarked. 

She concluded, “ Rahul Gandhi is making a mockery of our institutions and using caste as a card to undermine the credibility of our processes. It is unacceptable.”