A storm is brewing in the Textile Ministry. Reports say that newly appointed Minister of Textile, Smriti Irani is at loggerheads with her senior most bureaucrat, Rashmi Verma.
What started as a promising initiative to promote handloom, may not be going as well anymore.
They get along so poorly, that even the PMO’s interference hasn’t helped the case much.
A dozen notes have been issued by Smriti Irani to Rashmi Verma seeking her response on issues ranging from procedural and administrative policies, The Indian Express reported.
Sources told The Indian Express that Irani had a heated argument with Verma in the presence of other officers.
While Verma denied any conflict, Irani refused to comment on the issue.
Unconfirmed reports emerged of more bad blood between the two. Reports from India Samvad said that on a visit to inspect the cottage industry which is operated by the Textile Ministry, Irani bought sarees and a Ganesh idol worth Rs 8 lakh and sent the bill to be paid by the ministry.
However, Verma refused to pay for Irani’s expenses, saying that the ministry would not pay for Irani’s personal expenses, to which the minister said she had the right to wear handloom clothes paid for by the ministry to promote the industry.
Smriti Irani was shifted from the HRD ministry in a cabinet reshuffle in July.
Verma, an IAS officer of 1982 Bihar cadre and sister of Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha, was appointed Textiles Secretary last December.
(Source: The Indian Express, India Samvad)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)