New Delhi, Oct 29: Jaipal Reddy, who has been shifted from Petroleum to Science & Technology portfolio in Sunday's reshuffle, was not present today when the new Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily took charge.
Reddy is yet to vacate his ministerial office with reports saying that he is sulking over this 'demotion'.
"Portfolios do change when you are in government", said Moily. "It's the prerogative of the Prime Minister who assigns portfolios. Previously, I had been given a different portfolio, after leaving Law".
India Against Corruption activist Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the "corrupt have been promoted and the honest have been demoted in the reshuffle."
Kejriwal said: "Jaipal Reddy is considered to be an honest man and he was removed. Salman Khurshid, who was exposed in corruption charges, was promoted by the government."
Kejriwal had earlier taken to the streets demanding Khurshid's resignation as law minister (the portfolio he earlier held) over allegations that a trust he ran along with his wife had misappropriated grants worth Rs.71.50 lakh.
Slamming the government for promoting Khurshid, Kejriwal said: "It seems that the government is conveying a message that corrupt people will be rewarded and honest people will get a demotion."
In the cabinet reshuffle Sunday, Reddy was transferred from the crucial petroleum ministry to the ministry of science and technology. M. Veerappa Moily was handed the petroleum ministry.
Salman Khurshid was elevated from the law ministry to foreign affairs Sunday.
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu also demanded clarifications from the government over the transfer of Jaipal Reddy in the cabinet reshuffle.
Naidu, seeking clarification from the government on Reddy's transfer, said: "The prime minister must explain why Jaipal Reddy was removed and given an unimportant portfolio. Was there pressure from industrial houses?"
BJP spokesperson Shah Nawaz Hussain also spoke in a similar vein. Hussain said, the corrupt has been rewarded, while those who are innocent have been punished.
