Educating Smriti

Smriti Irani’s induction into the HRD ministry may have been ill-conceived but she sought to bring in transparency (A Lesson for Smriti Irani). She has been attacked from within and without through propaganda aimed at diverting attention from the misuse of university funds that she was on the verge of exposing. Irani has a rare boldness and the vision to implement long-term reform. Her debating skills may prove to be a great asset for the party in the forthcoming assembly polls in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. A.S. MALHOTRA, Delhi

The media has been unduly harsh on Irani. Her swift action against

‘anti-national’ elements in JNU and the brash rejection of Macaulayism had earned her the nation’s respect. It is ingratitude on our part to dismiss her contribution. The secular brigade is prone to finding fault with anyone with a ‘Bharatiya’ bent of mind. MAYA AGARWAL, via e-mail In a democracy, does the portfolio of a minister really matter? Across the board, media reaction to the recently recast Union cabinet was the same: “HRD minister Smriti Irani ‘shunted’ to textiles ministry, Venkaiah Naidu’s ‘wings clipped’ by giving parliamentary affairs to Ananth Kumar, Sadananda Gowda ‘shown the door’ with programme implementation”. Does the media have to needle? Who decides that the finance ministry is more prestigious than textiles or programme implementation? The only thing that counts is a minister’s commitment. PADMINI RAGHAVENDRA, Secunderabad