Noida: For the first time after local MP Mahesh Sharma was appointed Union minister two years ago, he had to face uncomfortable questions in Noida over 'non-performance' and infighting in the BJP that have been attributed as reasons for his departure from the civil aviation ministry.
Sharma, who now holds only independent charge of the culture and tourism ministry, claimed that he was divested of the civil aviation portfolio to accommodate new ministers and reduce his workload. "I had independent charge of two ministries and that was an extra charge. After that, 19 more ministers had to be accommodated. Tourism is the Prime Minister's favourite ministry," he said on Monday.
But Sharma's undoing may have been caused by the discontent in the party over his performance and the public spats over his controversial comments in the past. Last week, posters by BJP members had come up across Noida thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP brass for not elevating Sharma to cabinet rank, saying that he was negligent, had made false promises about the Jewar airport project and spread "lies" in the media.
The minister, however, said the Jewar airport is still on track and emphasized that the project would not be affected by his removal. "I have stepped down as the civil aviation minister but the government is ours. The announcement regarding an airport to be built in Jewar was of the government and not a single minister," he said, adding that there was no confusion and the airport is awaiting an NOC from the defence ministry.
19/07/16 Times of India
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Sharma, who now holds only independent charge of the culture and tourism ministry, claimed that he was divested of the civil aviation portfolio to accommodate new ministers and reduce his workload. "I had independent charge of two ministries and that was an extra charge. After that, 19 more ministers had to be accommodated. Tourism is the Prime Minister's favourite ministry," he said on Monday.
But Sharma's undoing may have been caused by the discontent in the party over his performance and the public spats over his controversial comments in the past. Last week, posters by BJP members had come up across Noida thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP brass for not elevating Sharma to cabinet rank, saying that he was negligent, had made false promises about the Jewar airport project and spread "lies" in the media.
The minister, however, said the Jewar airport is still on track and emphasized that the project would not be affected by his removal. "I have stepped down as the civil aviation minister but the government is ours. The announcement regarding an airport to be built in Jewar was of the government and not a single minister," he said, adding that there was no confusion and the airport is awaiting an NOC from the defence ministry.
19/07/16 Times of India
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