Country gets its first woman Defence Minister in Nirmala Sitharaman

New Delhi, Sep 7: Ms Nirmala Sitharaman, the erstwhile Minister for Commerce and Industry today took charge as the country’s first full-time woman Defence Minister. Earlier, late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi held the portfoilio of Defence as additional charge. The takeover of the charge from Mr Arun Jaitley, who held additional charge of Defence, was delayed by two days as he was in Japan for a ministerial dialogue. The Defence Ministry did not have a full-time Minister after Manohar Parrikar was sent to Goa to take over as Chief Minister following elections in the state earlier this year. Ms Sitharaman was elevated to the Cabinet rank in Sunday’s reshuffle and appointed country’s Defence Minister. Reacting to elevation of his Cabinet colleague Nirmala Sitharaman as Defence Minister on September 3, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who earlier held additional charge as Defence Minister, had said, 'elevation of Nirmala Sitharaman as Defence Minister is a very significant landmark in this reshuffle. It is a case where a Minister performs well and earns a higher responsibility for herself.' Describing Ms Sitharaman as a very competent successor for himself, Mr Jaitley said, 'I am sure, now that I have an extremely competent successor in Nirmala Sitharaman, she will carry the road forward.' Terming the 'charge of Defence Minister ' as 'a big responsibility' entrusted by the nation, Ms Sitharaman said she would have to realise the aims by meeting the expectations and prove herself worthy of the top job. As the first woman holding full charge of the Defence Ministry, Ms Sitharaman decsribed it as a 'big day' for herself. She said, " it is a big big responsibility and i cannot put my feelings into words." She stated that in this new assignment she would have to prove herself as per expectations and fulfill goals for the nation. She also said one important thing is that with her becoming the Defence Minister there would be representation by two women in the 'Committee on Security' in the Union Cabinet. She too would be part of the committee along with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, she remarked. UNI