The minister, who had been given the charge of the HRD ministry after Tuesday’s reshuffle, was speaking at an event, “Infocom 2016”, organised by the Ananda Bazar Patrika Group.
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Asked about Smriti Irani’s absence from his charge-taking function, the minister said: “She was supposed to come today, but she was stuck in some personal work”.
“Mrs Smriti Irani, the honorable HRD minister, has treated me as if I am worth nothing. “This means my relationship with the media will continue no matter where I go”.
New HRD minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday said education was not a subject for party politics adding that dialogue was the key to avoid agitations as he replaced Smriti Irani who had a controversy-ridden tenure. “With dialogues in place, there will be no necessity of agitation”, Javadekar said. This possibly could even be an entry point for her to officially lead the BJP charge in Uttar Pradesh.
“I am happy that Prakash Javadekar will further Prime Minister’s vision in the (HRD) Ministry”, Irani said. The PMO had virtually blocked the cabinet approval for the bill because the HRD Ministry did not relent to two changes proposed for it.
Javadekar also held a meeting of officers immediately after joining, during which he is learnt to have laid stress on expediting appointments across educational institutions.
Whatever may be the case, the Twitter wasn’t kind to Irani, who recently found herself trolled on her retort to a minister’s “dear” remark as well. She faced criticism from several quarters for her handling of Hyderabad University Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula’s suicide and the JNU row.
“We believe education is a weapon of change”.
Lauding Smriti Irani, whom he referred to as his “little sister”, Javadekar said he will consult her to take forward her “good initiatives”.
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“All the challenges will be converted into opportunities. and we will cooperate with all the state’s”, Mr Javadekar said. Meanwhile, he also had a word of advice for Javadekar- he said that he hoped that Javadekar would be more humble and consultative, and also that he wouldn’t take directions from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
