No pressure on shifting of Jaipal Reddy: Digvijay

Congress leader Digvijay Singh has ruled out any "pressure" in the shifting of Union Minister S Jaipal Reddy from Petroleum to Science and Technology.

"The cabinet reshuffle is the prerogative of the Prime Minister. There is no question of any pressure. Jaipal Reddy is a very seasoned politician. He has served in the Petroleum Ministry and now he will serve in Science and Technology Ministry.

"With additional funds now going to the S and T Ministry and an increased focus on the sector, there is great scope for work here, which he will carry out," said Singh.

Party spokesperson Sandeep Dikshit also dismissed the talk of any pressure behind the change in Reddy's portfolio, saying "there are a lot of reasons why ministers are given a particular slot".

He advised BJP to look within reminding it of the controversy during the shifting of NDA ministers Jaswant Singh and Suresh Prabhu.

BJP and civil society leaders attacked the Prime Minister's decision to take Reddy out of Petroleum Ministry as having been dictated by corporate pressure and alleged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has rewarded the corrupt ministers with "promotions" in the reshuffle.

BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said "tainted" ministers have been given a new lease of life by Singh and the government "is more tainted now than it was before the cabinet reshuffle".

BJP is particularly critical of the elevation of Salman Khurshid from Law to the Ministry of External Affairs.


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