New Delhi: Putting up a brave face after getting transferred from crucial HRD Ministry to low-profile Textiles Ministry, Smriti Irani said her new portfolio signified the "faith" shown by the Prime Minister and the party in her capacity to perform.
Talking to reporters after taking charge as Textile Minister, she side-stepped questions about BJP president Amit Shah being behind her shift saying it is not individuals but the party who takes such decisions.
Asked if the move was to give her more time to focus on next year's assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, she quoted a line from a popular Hindi song, "Kuchh toh log kahenge logon ka kaam hai kehna" (people are bound to say things because it is their job to say something).
"I am happy that I have been given an opportunity especially when a special package (of Rs 6,000 crore for the apparel segment) has been announced for the sector. This signifies that my party and especially the Prime Minister has faith that I have the capacity to implement the roadmap that was projected through the Cabinet for the rest of the country," Irani said.
She said she was hopeful that the much-awaited new national textile policy "will soon see the light of day".
Earlier in the day, she tweeted on her tenure in HRD, which was marred by controversies, "In last 2 years, all initiatives of @HRDMinistry have been towards increasing learning outcomes for students and improving quality of education."
"I thank officials from @HRDMinistry for the consistent support in realising PM @narendramodi's vision of ensuring quality education for all," she said in another tweet.
About her new portfolio, Irani vowed to strengthen textile and apparel sectors and said her efforts will be primarily directed towards skill development and engaging more youngsters.
In Tuesday's Union Cabinet expansion, Irani lost her Human Resources Development Ministry toPrakash Javadekar and was moved to the Textiles Ministry. Santosh Gangwar, Minister of State for Textiles, has been made MoS (Finance).
(With PTI inputs)
