Budget session begins with ‘kheer ceremony’

The Delhi Budget Session began with a symbolic ‘kheer ceremony’ at the Delhi Assembly here on Monday, with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta terming it is as the foundation of a “golden future” for the city.

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The event began with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta paying floral tributes to Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar’s statue at the Vidhan Sabha’s central park. The ceremony, a first-of-its-kind initiative, was attended by Cabinet Ministers, MLAs, senior officials and representatives from various sectors who participated in discussions on the “Viksit Delhi” Budget.

Addressing the gathering, CM Rekha Gupta said: “Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, our government will present the ‘Viksit Delhi Budget’ after 27 years. Just as Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile, we are returning after 27 years to script a new chapter in Delhi’s development.”

She said: “The ‘Viksit Delhi Budget’ will ensure that Delhi’s growth is as sweet as kheer. It is a people’s Budget, shaped by the aspirations and suggestions of Delhiites, including traders, industrialists, farmers, doctors, municipal councillors and slum-dwellers.”

CM Gupta highlighted the government’s focus on infrastructure development, education, healthcare, employment, pollution control and Yamuna cleaning. She reiterated the need for collaboration between the Centre and the Delhi Government to address public concerns, calling the BJP-led administration a “double-engine government” that will set new benchmarks for the city’s progress.

The ‘Viksit Delhi Budget’, she said, would prioritise economic empowerment of women, reliable utilities, monsoon drainage solutions and overall urban development. Hundreds of public recommendations have been incorporated into the Budget, she noted, making it a truly participatory effort.

The CM concluded by asserting that this Budget would strengthen Delhi’s path toward becoming a world-class Capital.