In the first major realignment of his over-two-year-old government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday has moved Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Smriti Irani, one of its most high-profile and controversial faces, into the relatively low-key Textiles Ministry.
Bringing major changes in the portfolios of his top ministers, the prime minister has inducted 19 new ministers in his Cabinet. Prakash Javadekar, who earlier headed the Environment and Forest Ministry, has now been appointment as the new HRD minister.
In other significant changes, Venkaiah Naidu, who was the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, has become the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) minister, which Arun Jaitley now loses. But it was Smriti Irani’s removal from HRD ministry that’s been trending. Twitter was abuzz with the unexpected reshuffle, with around 10,000 tweets being posted about Irani in just over an hour.
In Hindsight, Smriti Irani shouldn’t have said ‘Judge me by my Work’. Her boss just did
— Joy (@Joydas) July 5, 2016
Now, India has an educated HRD minister. And, I think he will be proved to be at least a better performer than Smriti Irani.
— Shahid Hasnain (@shahidHasnain) July 5, 2016
Smriti Irani
क्योंकि स्मृति भी कभी HRD थी |— Imran Khan (@AAP_iz_Imran) July 5, 2016
Ah the textiles need to be straightened out, I reckon? #SmritiIraniExit Smriti Irani will iron out the weave chinks now.
— Dorkydivaesque (@AnujaJaiman) July 5, 2016
Prakash Javdekar now was an easy job. No matter how bad he turns out to be for HRD, people will say ‘Atleast he is better than Smriti Irani’
— Joy (@Joydas) July 5, 2016
Smriti irani ji is fond of colourful sarees so modi gave her what she was best at, she will ensure no cameras in trial rooms too !!
— Arvind Kejriwal (@KasamJhaaduKi) July 5, 2016
Smriti Irani बहन छोड़ इस बीजेपी को चल सीरियल मे या कांग्रेस में मिल जाते है @anaya1singh @khushi3424 @sunilsonia pic.twitter.com/qh7xx3z6fm
— Uday Raj Singh (@udayrajsingh11) July 5, 2016
Yes. Not just professors, Ms Irani’s departure would be welcomed by anyone with serious understanding of education! https://t.co/I2kpu8nocm
— Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) July 5, 2016
‘Patanjali India Fashion Week’ after @smritiirani takes over as Textiles Minister. #ModiCabinet pic.twitter.com/6eD5QgNHks
— Rofl Peace Gandhi (@RoflGandhi_) July 5, 2016
@MsSantoesha
Smriti Irani declared as best textile minister of the world just few minutes ago by UNESCO. pic.twitter.com/691a8lHsif— Ajay Kalra (@AjayKalra2010) July 5, 2016
Smriti Irani has great experience in Textiles considering she wore a different saree everyday in Kyunki, even a colourful saree to sleep.
— Hypocrisy Watch (@bigotry_watch) July 5, 2016
Not to worry About Smriti Irani
She will easily apply for other job with her Yale University Degree— गौरव कुलकर्णी (@gauravkulkarni7) July 5, 2016
#AuntyNational @smritiirani ‘s reaction after knowing she won’t be allowed to do drama in parliament as HRD minister pic.twitter.com/pdp2JCUcPG
— Abhijeet (@AB_Dipke) July 5, 2016
Smriti Irani removed from HRD ministry ?
Damn ,she was the inspiration for many 10 fail students#UddGayiSmriti #smritiirani— malik kherani (@malik_kherani88) July 5, 2016
Who cares about these #CabinetReshuffle as long as Modi is PM.. Reshuffle mein PM naa badal dena bas..:P
— Paresh Rawal (@Babu_Bhaiyaa) July 5, 2016
Smriti Irani became the youngest cabinet minister in 2014 after the BJP gained a massive victory in the Lok Sabha polls. During her term as HRD Minister, the actor-turned BJP leader often lurched from one controversy to the next, leaving the government embarrassed on various occasions. She faced criticism from several quarters for her handling of Hyderabad University Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula’s suicide and the JNU row.