NEW DELHI, November 9 (RIA Novosti) — Former Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar took oath as a cabinet minister of Indian President Narendra Modi's government on Sunday.
"I am very happy and feeling grateful to have got the chance to serve the country," Manohar Parrika told RIA Novosti.
Manohar Parrikar resigned on Saturday as Chief Minister of Goa to be inducted into President Narendra Modi’s cabinet as a key minister.
According to sources from Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Parrikar is the new defense minister in-waiting, but he refused to disclose which portfolio he was assigned.
"Whatever the portfolio will be, I will try to perform to the best of my abilities. I am a seasoned politician with a technocratic background which helps me a great deal," Manohar Parrikar said after the swearing ceremony which took place at the president’s official residence in New Delhi, the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
As a new defense minister, Manohar Parrikar will have a tough task to perform as the modernization of India’s army is one of the top agendas of the Modi government. Further to this, Parrikar’s main challenges include cross border terrorism, increasing incidents of ceasefire violations and other challenges at the border with Pakistan.
