On a historic Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi picked Nirmala Sitharaman for the crucial post of Defense Minister of the country.
Sitharaman thus becomes the second woman and the first full-time woman defence minister. It is for the first time ever that India has two women heading two of the most important security-related ministries. People are now hoping that Sitharaman will do to Defense Ministry what Sushma Swaraj is doing as the External Affairs Minister.
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Anyway, social media is praising the decision of the Modi government and congratulating Sitharaman for getting the crucial role.
Many congratulations to @nsitharaman Ji on becoming India’s next & first full time woman Defence Minister. Wish her all the best.
— Manohar Parrikar (@manoharparrikar) September 3, 2017
. @nsitharaman Congrats Mam on a well deserved promotion as the Defense Minister💐
Indian Forces welcomes you🙏 @adgpi #NirmalaSitharaman pic.twitter.com/YDSB5SxMpl— Maj Surendra Poonia (@MajorPoonia) September 3, 2017
By choosing @nsitharaman as first full time woman defence minister of India PM @narendramodi has carried out another surgical strike!
— Nitin A. Gokhale (@nitingokhale) September 3, 2017
A woman #Defence minister is one of the biggest signs of #womenempowerment in any country #NirmalaSitharaman 👏👏👏👏 #cabinetreshuffle pic.twitter.com/LCnUz2rz73
— Randeep Hooda (@RandeepHooda) September 3, 2017
The astute and no-nonsense @nsitharaman getting Defence is the best news I got today. @narendramodi govt walks d talk on women’s empowerment
— Shefali Vaidya (@ShefVaidya) September 3, 2017
Pleased with Nirmala Sitharaman’s appointment. Seems like the party set out to send a message both to women & south Indians.
— Vasudha Venugopal (@vasudha_ET) September 3, 2017
Proud of her.
She is brilliant in her work.
She has earned her way thru every bit. @nsitharaman
Wish her the best pic.twitter.com/0AihfkR9b1— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) September 3, 2017
#NirmalaSitharaman 1st woman to hold full time exclusive charge of #Defence in India ! Mrs Gandhi was PM plus DM . Hats off @narendramodi https://t.co/nHdMyV1md8
— Shivaani K Talwar (@ShivaaniKTalwar) September 3, 2017
Nirmala Sitharaman an inspired choice as Defence minister. Will handle MoD bureaucrats well, handle China, Pak with finesse & strength
— Minhaz Merchant (@MinhazMerchant) September 3, 2017
At the same time, some are taking digs at the media and anti-BJP forces which were totally clueless about it.
Media Before : Nirmala Sitharaman may be dropped from modi cabinet
Modi : Nirmala sitharaman will be new defence minister.
— अंकित जैन (@indiantweeter) September 3, 2017
So ‘regressive Hindu patriarchal’ BJP has women as defence & foreign ministers & Dalit as President! N all of them have risen through ranks.
— Abhinav Prakash (@Abhina_Prakash) September 3, 2017
Nirmala Sitharaman as Defence Minister is a bigger Bomb than North Korea’s explosion. Boom !! And, media had no clue about both. 😁😁
— GhoseSpot (@SandipGhose) September 3, 2017
Some people are warning Pakistan.
India’s Last Woman Defence Minister Split #Pakistan Into 2. Be Scared Of Nirmala Sitharaman, Pakistan. Be Scared! #NirmalaSitharaman 🙏🏾🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/y5pWI9cjHM
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) September 3, 2017
R.K. Yadav, former R&AW officer, too, praised Sitharaman but pointed out the most important task for her.
I found her quite competent & vocal about past assignment.However she has to take some bold decisions.Our Defence production is almost zero
— R.K. Yadav (@rawrkyadav) September 3, 2017
As Defence Minister, Sitharaman will have to work towards strengthening and sharpening the teeth of the forces with special focus on defense purchases, defense manufacturing in India, and finding solutions to them into a lean and efficient fighting force.
Nirmala Sitharaman has been a part of Modi’s ministry since the NDA came to power in May 2014. She joined BJP in 2006 and was one of the 12 candidates nominated by the BJP to contest the Rajya Sabha elections in June 2016.
