Veteran Congress functionary P Chidambaram on Sunday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his decision to continue with Union Agriculture Minister Radhamohan Singh and Health Minister J.P. Nadda in the Union Cabinet despite the two sectors suffering from incredible distress and crisis.
In a series of tweets, the former finance minister said, “Agriculture in distress, Health in crisis, but ministers remain. Amidst all the trumped up excitement, will someone please note 13 more children died yesterday in Gorakhpur?”
Agriculture in distress, Health in crisis, but ministers remain.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) September 3, 2017
Amidst all the trumped up excitement, will someone please note 13 MORE children died yesterday in Gorakhpur?
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) September 3, 2017
He also sarcastically welcomed Suresh Prabhu, who was sacked from the railway ministry for his poor handling and given new charge of commerce ministry. Chidambaram said, “Welcome Mr. Prabhu to Industry (manufacturing in doldrums) and Commerce (exports stagnant). Best wishes.”
Welcome Mr Prabhu to Industry (manufacturing in doldrums) and Commerce (exports stagnant). Best wishes.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) September 3, 2017
Swaraj India’s Yogendra Yadav too expressed his dismay over the retention of the agriculture minister in the Modi cabinet.
He tweeted, “Continuation of @RadhamohanBJP as Agriculture Minister is a joke. Did someone say Performance?”
Continuation of @RadhamohanBJP as Agriculture Minister is a joke. Did someone say Performance? https://t.co/bXkH2ZfCHM
— Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) September 3, 2017
Yadav called the cabinet expansion as ‘symbolic gains, no substantial change Nothing was expected in a one-member cabinet at this stage.’
Yadav has been actively working with farmers, who are in distress due to failed crops, inadequate MSP for their produce and bad loans.
India’s healthcare system has come under condemnation after series of reports highlighted how children were dying in government hospitals across the country due to the system’s administrative lapses and poor allocation of resources.
Minister of State for Commerce and Industry (Independent Charge) Nirmala Sitharaman was on Sunday promoted and appointed as Defence Minister in a surprise move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who elevated three others to the cabinet and brought in nine new faces including four former bureaucrats in a reshuffle-cum-expansion of his ministry based on performance.
Power Minister Piyush Goyal, also promoted from Minister of State with independent charge to the Cabinet, got the Railways portfolio, from which Suresh Prabhu was shifted to Commerce and Industry. Prabhu had offered to quit after a major rail accident in Uttar Pradesh claimed 23 lives last month.