Goyal says 'conscious of Jaitley's absence', touches feet of senior lawmakers

Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday displayed his humility and faith in the age old Indian tradition when he touched the feet of senior lawmakers Nitin Gadkari, Shanta Kumar and Uma Bharati before presenting the Interim Budget.

Before the House proceedings began, as Mr Goyal walked in carrying the conventional brownish briefcase, he immediately touched Mr Gadkari's feet as he took the seat next to Union Minister for Surface Transport.

Mr Goyal also went back for a while and bowed down before senior MPs Shanta Kumar and Uma Bharati.

Among the ruling bench, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Home Minister Rajnath Singh were first to come and take their seat.

Interestingly, 'former Trinamool MP' Saumitra Khan, who last month joined BJP, was, however seated among the last rows behind Trinamool Congress lawmakers.

At times, he too was spotted thumping desks and joining the BJP members.

Before the proceedings began, BJP leader Kalraj Mishra was seen crossing over near the opposition benches and extendING greetings to former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Piyush Goyal as an interim Finance Minister in view of illness of Arun Jaitley on Friday created a record for himself by presenting the interim Budget.

Mr Goyal's tenure as Power Minister between 2014 and 2017 saw major transformation in country's power sector including the fast-tracking of electrification of the nearly 18,000 unelectrified villages.

Earlier, beginning his speech, said he is "deeply conscious" of Arun Jaitley's absence in the House and said he was sure all members would join him in extending speedy recovery to Mr Jaitley.