RSS praises woman in defence, Jaitley says it ‘sends global message’

NIRMALA SITHARAMAN IS THE SECOND WOMAN TO HEAD THE DEFENCE MINISTRY AFTER EXPM INDIRA GANDHI

RSS on Sunday welcomed the appointment of Nirmala Sitharaman as the defence minister, calling it a “good decision”.

“It is a good decision by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We welcome her (Sitharaman),” senior RSS leader Manmohan Vaidya told reporters in Vrindavan. Sitharaman was promoted and appointed as the country’s defence minister in a surprise move by Modi.

She became the second woman to head the defence ministry after Indira Gandhi when she was the prime minister.

Charge of defence was currently with finance minister Arun Jaitley, who, too, hailed the appointment, saying it sends “a message globally”.

“It is great for the country, not just for the women. It also sends a message globally,” said Jaitley, who had taken the charge of the ministry after Manohar Parrikar left the post to become Goa chief minister earlier this year.

Noting that the Cabinet Committee on Security would now have two women ministers, with Sitharaman joining external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, Jaitley said: “Both ladies in CCS have established their competence, both are recognised as ladies with substance, who have earned a front-line position for themselves.”

Asked if women in combat maybe a reality with a woman as the defence minister, Jaitley quipped: “That was one area in which I wasn’t able to do much.”

Parrikar, too, congratulated Sitharaman . “Many congratulations to @nsitharaman Ji on becoming India’s next & first full time woman Defence Minister. Wish her all the best.”