JOIN USAs the new ministers are settling in their assignments, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has only one message for them - “Work hard”.
Modi was quoted as exhorting the new incumbents to do “all work sincerely”, by new Minister of State for Home Affairs Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary, who assumed charge on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister wanted the ministers to serve the nation and the people with dedication, he told reporters when asked about the Prime Minister’s pep talk to the new team when they met Modi on Sunday. Chaudhary, the four-time MP from Banaskantha in Gujarat, is the second Minister of State in Home Ministry after Kiren Rijiju, an MP from Arunachal Pradesh.
“I am grateful to Prime Minister Narendrabhai. Whatever responsibility he has given me, I will discharge to the best of my ability. I am ready to take on any responsibility and challenge,” he said.
Asked about a reported ban on foreign travel by ministers, he said there was no such ban on travel but everyone has been advised not to go out of the country during Parliament session.
Chaudhary met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and attended an official meeting.
A graduate of Mumbai University, he has served on several Parliamentary committees of different ministries.
Hansraj Ahir, the whistleblower on coal scam, also took charge as Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers on his birthday on Tuesday in the presence of his senior minister Ananth Kumar.
It is the priority of the government to make fertilisers and medicines available to the poor at a cheaper price, he said, adding that he would work hard under the guidance of his senior colleague to achieve the goals set by the Prime Minister.
Other Ministers who took charge included Minister of State (Independent charge) for AYUSH Shripad Naik, Minister of State (Independent charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Giriraj Singh.