Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday handed over Defence portfolio to Arun Jaitley, who is also holding the Finance Ministry. A Rashtrapati Bhavan communique said that the resignation of Parrikar as the defence minister, on advice of Prime Minister, has been accepted with immediate effect. ‘Further, as advised by the Prime Minister, the President has directed that Arun Jaitely, Cabinet Minister, shall be assigned the charge of the ministry of defence, in addition to his existing portfolios,’ the communique said. Parrikar submitted his resignation after BJP staked claim to form an alliance government in Goa.
This is the second time that Jaitley is holding the additional portfolio of defence during the present NDA government. He was in-charge of the ministry earlier from May 26 to November 9 in 2014..
