Uma Bharti, who was earlier the Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Minister, has been named the Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation after the cabinet reshuffle.
When asked if she was ever pulled up for non-performance as water resources minister by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bharti said he had scolded her twice in the last three years.
However, his scolding me has nothing to do my work. He scolded me for being overweight and asked me to lose weight.
Bharti raised eyebrows when she stayed away from the swearing-in ceremony and has had a rocky relationship with the BJP leadership in the past as well.
On being asked if she was taken into confidence by the Prime Minister before her portfolio was changed, Bharti said the matter was between them.
She added, “Let it be very clear, Ganga has not been taken away from me. On the contrary, it has been given to me in a bigger way. The essence of sanitation department is that Uma Bharti has now reached on the banks of Ganga.”
She said there was no question of failure on her part as she successfully implemented most projects of her ministry. Bharti used a Hindi song to describe her relationship with Ganga, terming it very "personalised". The former Water Resources minister said she still feels as responsible for the Ganga.
I am still a cabinet minister. Every minister can give his opinion on any subject during the cabinet meet. I can still very much voice my opinions and suggestions.
She said that she had an ardent wish to undertake a padyatra along the banks of the Ganga and conveyed it to the PM Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah on various occasions. She said her wish has been fulfilled now.
"I thank the Prime Minister for finally providing me with this opportunity," she said.
(With inputs from IANS)
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