ramani@shakti.ernet.in ( Dr.S.Ramani @ NCST Bombay ) (06/26/91)
Newdelhi:
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New Delhi,June 26: Mr Sharad Pawar, who relinquished
the office of the Chief minister of Maharashtra, is the new
defence minister but contrary to specualtions will not hold
number two position in the union cabinet.
Mr Pawar,who flew in here from Bombay this morning, was
sworn-in along with two ministers of state and a deputy
minister by the President, Mr.R.Venkataraman, was allocated
the key portoflio after a brief swearing-in ceremony.
Replying to newsmen's questions soon after the ceremony,
the Prime minister, Mr P.V. Narasimha Rao, said there was
nothing like number two or three in his cabinet. Earlier also
there was nothing like number two.
Asked if he was number two in the cabinet, Mr Pawar
said,''this is not important. What is important is to work
collectively''.
A Rajya Sabha member, Mr Rameshwar Thakur, who was
sworn in along with Mr Pawar as Minister of State was
allocated Finance.Mrs. D.K.Tara Devi and Mr Nyame Gouda, sworn
in as minister of state and deputy ministers respectively were
given health and family welfare and coal.
Mr.Krishna Kumar, minister of state for petroleum and
natural gas, has been given additional charge of ministry of
defence in the same capacity. Ms. Mamta Banerjee, minister of
state for sports and youth affairs was also given additional
charge women and child develodpment.
Newdelhi:
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New Delhi, June 26: The foreign secretaries of India and
Pakistan will hold informal discussions in Male on Sunday before
the start of the two-day meeting of the SAARC standing committee from
July two, official sources said today. The external affairs minister,
Mr Madhav Sinh Solanki, is expected to attend the meeting, the sources said.
There is no no scheduled agenda for the talks between the foreign
secretary, Mr Muchkund Dubey, and his Pakistan counterpart, Mr Shehriar
M Khan, the sources said. High level delegations from Bangaldesh, Nepal,
Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bhutan will also attend the conference.
End af article