July 6, 2016
NEW DELHI – Union minister Jayant Sinha was moved out of finance ministry as he "spoke out of turn," sources told NDTV. The party brass, the sources indicated, were also unhappy with the remarks of his father, former Union minister Yashwant Sinha, criticising the government's policies.
July 6, 2016
NEW DELHI – Union minister Jayant Sinha was moved out of finance ministry as he "spoke out of turn," sources told NDTV. The party brass, the sources indicated, were also unhappy with the remarks of his father, former Union minister Yashwant Sinha, criticising the government's policies.
Likewise, Smriti Irani was divested of the high profile Human Resources Development portfolio since the BJP brass was unhappy about the many controversies during her tenure, sources said.
Ahead of the next year's crucial elections in Uttar Pradesh, Chaudhary Birendra Singh was shifted out of Rural Development ministry due to poor delivery, sources said.
Ever since the Modi government took oath in May 2014, Sinha senior, who had been a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, had taken digs at the new government. On the day of oath taking, he had criticized the Prime Minister's ceiling on the age of 75 for ministers, which ruled out a section of BJP veterans including him and LK Advani from ministerial berths.
As late as last month, he had criticized the Modi government over its push for membership to the exclusive nuke club nuclear security group.
Since last night's big reshuffle of the Council of ministers, speculations have been made about the shift of Ms. Irani from education to the no-so-high-profile textile ministry. While a section had contended that it was a punishment posting, others said the shift to a ministry where the workload was not so heavy was made with an eye to the coming elections in Uttar Pradesh.
Ms. Irani had given Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi a tough fight in Amethi and now, with buzz that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra may lead the Congress campaign in the state, Ms. Irani was expected to be pitched as a foil.
Ms. Irani had dismissed the speculations with a famous song from Bollywood – "Kuch to log kahenge, logon ka kaam hai kehna," meaning people will talk.
Sources said the portfolio changes were decided between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah. Indications were given to the ministers that there might be changes in their portfolios.
Courtesy: NDTV
