Pune: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday rose to defend her successor arguing that worshipping armaments on the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami was an integral part of Indian culture. The former Defense minister, lashed out at those criticizing Defense Minister Rajnath Singh for performing Shashtra Puja (worship of armaments) while receiving the first Rafale jet in France. Defending her successor she argued that there was nothing superstitious about it.
The Union Finance Minister stated that following the controversy many social media users had come up with videos of how a former Defense minister while taking charge of a naval ship, had marked it with a symbol of his religion. Sitharaman was referring to A.K. Antony’s drawing a ‘cross’ on INS Vikrant during its launch ceremony.
Sitharaman further remarked that at that time many were concerned with superstition or blind faith. She further argued that similar things (Pujas) have happened during earlier governments in India and also take place across the world. The Union Finance Minister pointed out that Pujas as these have been performed on the occasion of Vijayadashami. The former Union Defense Minister questioned the hue and cry being raised over Rajnath Singh marking Hindu religious symbol “Om” on the Rafale jet body. She further argued that in other countries around the world perform such rituals according to their religious beliefs.
Replying to queries over the economic slowdown especially in the automobile sector, the Union Finance Minister said that she has been regularly interacting with representatives from the automobile sector and was ready to hold talks with them and hear their demands. She admitted that more steps needed to be taken to revive consumer demand.
The Union Finance Minister praised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ governments performance in the state. She added that more efforts were needed to resolve the water scarcity issue. Sitharaman said that that the issue of water scarcity needed more time and effort. Replying to queries about how abrogation of Article 370 from Kashmir was relevant in a State election, she argued that the abrogation of Article 370 was matter of pride for every Indian and claimed that not a single bullet had been fired in Kashmir since its abrogation.
