Nirmala Sitharaman as defence minister is an “excellent” choice in the cabinet reshuffle feels defense expert PK Sehgal. “I think it is an excellent choice. She is focused, committed, hardworking leader,” he said. Sitharaman will prove to be an outstanding defense minister and has established herself as a persevering leader, he added.
Sehgal also highlighted the lack of responsibility undertaken by BJP government. “If you look at Modi’s regime, half the time we had a temporary defense minister, with the result that critical decisions have been kept pending. Chief of defense staff has still not been approved,” he said.
“Ministry of Defense should be prepared to face a World War like situation as against the small ones like Pakistan and China. The distrust between the bureaucracy and armed forces could be fatal for the years ahead,” he added.
Sitharaman was appointed as the Defence Minister on Sunday. She is the second woman to do so after late Indira Gandhi, and the first one to take independent charge. Sitharaman will take possession of the post from Jaitley on 6 September 6. Jaitley will retain his position as the Finance Minister.
